St Leonards (NSW)

St Leonards lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

The population of St Leonards (NSW) is estimated to be around 8,249 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 1,037 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,212 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 8,230 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 895 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 10,311 persons per square kilometer, placing St Leonards among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 14.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (5.9%) and the state average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in St Leonards.

AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 2,345 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 28.2% in total over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions St Leonards among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

St Leonards recorded approximately 81 residential properties granted approval annually, with around 405 homes approved between financial years FY21 to FY25 inclusive. As of FY26, 10 dwellings have been approved so far. On average, each dwelling accommodates about 3 new residents per year over the past five financial years.

The average construction value for these dwellings is approximately $964,000, indicating a focus on premium developments. In FY26, commercial approvals totaled $25.5 million, reflecting steady investment activity in St Leonards. Compared to Greater Sydney, St Leonards has 74.0% more development activity per capita. Recent construction comprises 7.0% standalone homes and 93.0% medium and high-density housing. The population density stands at around 253 people per dwelling approval. By 2041, AreaSearch quarterly estimates project an addition of approximately 2,326 residents to St Leonards.

Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand projections, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

St Leonards has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 47 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include The Landmark Quarter at St Leonards, Park Avenue Residences St Leonards, St Leonards Telstra Exchange Mixed-Use Tower, and Forum Place by Mirvac.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment environment in St Leonards shows above-average strength when compared nationally

St Leonards has a highly educated workforce. In the technology sector, it stands out with a low unemployment rate of 3.5% and stable employment over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of December 2025, 5,803 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation is high at 80.4%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census responses show that 67.0% of residents work from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (2.1 times the regional average), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Construction employs only 3.8% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.6%.

There are 2.4 workers for every resident, indicating that St Leonards functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5% and labour force grew by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to St Leonards' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.8% over five years and 15.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023 shows St Leonards had a median taxpayer income of $83,715 and an average income of $122,619. These figures are notably high compared to national averages of $60,817 and $83,003 in Greater Sydney. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for St Leonards would be approximately $92,354 (median) and $135,273 (average) as of March 2026. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in St Leonards rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 98th percentiles. Income distribution shows 33.8% (2,788 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly income range, similar to the regional average of 30.9%. Higher earners make up a significant portion, with 43.8% exceeding $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 21.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 83rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

St Leonards features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

St Leonards' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consists of 2.8% houses and 97.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro has 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Leonards stands at 12.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (17.8%) or rented (69.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,600, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in St Leonards is $600, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, St Leonards' mortgage repayments are higher at $2,600 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

St Leonards features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.0% of all households, including 16.0% couples with children, 32.5% couples without children, and 4.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.0%, with lone person households at 39.1% and group households comprising 6.8%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

St Leonards demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

St Leonards' residents aged 15+ have a notably higher university qualification rate of 71.9%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high educational attainment is marked by a significant proportion holding Bachelor degrees (44.3%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational pathways are also pursued, with advanced diplomas accounting for 8.9% and certificates for 6.3%. Notably, 23.5% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 8.5% in tertiary, 4.8% in primary, and 2.4% pursuing secondary education.

A substantial 23.5% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.5% in tertiary education, 4.8% in primary education, and 2.4% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Public transport analysis shows 21 active stops operating in St Leonards. These include train and bus services. There are 43 routes serving these stops, providing a total of 11,647 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest stop is 132 meters. Most commuting is outward-bound due to the area's residential nature. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 41%, followed by trains at 26% and walking at 22%.

On average, there are 0.3 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 67% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,663 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 554 weekly trips per stop.

St Leonards's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across St Leonards. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (6,202 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were mental health issues (5.9%) and asthma (5.8%). A total of 82.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 74.6% across Greater Sydney. St Leonards has 9.0% of residents aged 65 and over (742 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

St Leonards is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

St Leonards has a high level of cultural diversity, with 49.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 61.4% born overseas. The dominant religion in St Leonards is Christianity, accounting for 30.8% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in St Leonards compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 5.9% versus 4.1%.

Regarding ancestry, Chinese is the most represented group at 21.7%, significantly higher than the regional average of 8.4%. Other and English are also prominent groups, making up 17.9% and 14.9% respectively. Some ethnic groups show notable differences in representation: Korean is overrepresented at 2.5% compared to the regional average of 1.1%, Russian at 0.8% versus 0.4%, and Spanish at 0.8% compared to 0.6%.

St Leonards hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

St Leonard's median age of 35 years is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 and the national average of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 31.1%, higher than Greater Sydney, while the 5-14 cohort comprises 4.6%. This 25-34 concentration is above the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 7.2% to 9.1%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 1.9% to 3.4%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 33.3% to 31.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for St Leonard's, with the 45-54 age group projected to increase by 386 people (44%), from 882 to 1,269.