St Leonards (Tas.)

Population growth drivers in St Leonards are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of St Leonards (Tas.) as of Nov 2025 is around 2,600 people. This reflects an increase of 249 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,351 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,500 residents following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS (June 2024) and an additional 69 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 58 persons per square kilometer. St Leonards' 10.6% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.9%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of locations outside capital cities is expected for St Leonards (Tas.). The suburb is expected to expand by 146 persons to reach approximately 2,746 people by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 0.3% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within St Leonards when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis shows St Leonards averaged approximately 17 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 87 homes. In FY26 so far, 13 approvals have been recorded. From FY21 to FY25, an average of 1.9 people moved to the area per dwelling built. However, this decreased to 0.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $458,000.

This year has seen $3.7 million in commercial approvals. Compared to Rest of Tas., St Leonards has 65% more new home approvals per person. Recent construction comprises 94% detached houses and 6% townhouses or apartments. With around 129 people per dwelling approval, St Leonards exhibits growth area characteristics.

Future projections estimate St Leonards will add 7 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

St Leonards has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Cedar Grove Estate, Dwelling and Shed at 18 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill 7250, Residential dwelling and vegetation removal at 38 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill, and Peacehaven Aged Care Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The exceptional employment performance in St Leonards places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

St Leonards has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. The unemployment rate is 1.2% as of June 2025, which is lower than the Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%.

Employment stability has been maintained over the past year. Workforce participation in St Leonards is higher at 65.6%, compared to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Key industries employing residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. Construction stands out with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 2.5% of local workers, lower than Rest of Tas.'s 8.4%. Some residents commute for work opportunities outside St Leonards. In the year ending June 2025, labour force decreased by 0.9%, with employment declining by 0.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. This contrasts with Rest of Tas., where employment contracted by 0.5% and unemployment fell marginally. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Leonards's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows St Leonards had a median income among taxpayers of $53,285 and an average of $67,014. This is slightly above the national average. Rest of Tas., meanwhile, had a median income of $47,358 and an average of $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates for St Leonards would be approximately $60,654 (median) and $76,282 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data ranks household, family, and personal incomes in St Leonards modestly, between the 39th and 42nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 35.0% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is consistent with broader regional trends at 28.5%. Housing costs are manageable with 87.2% retained income, but disposable income ranks below average at the 44th percentile.

St Leonards is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in St Leonards, as assessed at the latest Census, consisted of 94.0% houses and 6.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s 82.1% houses and 17.9% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in St Leonards was similar to that of Non-Metro Tas., at 32.5%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 45.6% and rented ones 21.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area aligned with Non-Metro Tas.'s average, $1,300, while the median weekly rent was $290 compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $280. Nationally, St Leonards's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

St Leonards has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.1% of all households, including 30.9% couples with children, 29.2% couples without children, and 15.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 23.9%, with lone person households at 22.2% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in St Leonards fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 16.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 30.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.8% in primary, 8.4% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education. St Leonards has 3 schools with a combined enrollment of 490 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1001) offering balanced educational opportunities. These 3 schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby.

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

St Leonards has 23 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a total of 46 different routes, facilitating 4,681 weekly passenger trips combined. The transport accessibility in the area is considered good, with residents on average being located 304 meters away from their nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 668 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 203 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in St Leonards is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

St Leonards faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% (1,396 people), which is higher than the Rest of Tas at 50.6%.

Mental health issues impact 10.5% of residents, while asthma affects 9.4%. Approximately 65.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of Tas. The area has 16.1% (418 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 19.9% in Rest of Tas. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

St Leonards is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

St Leonards, as per data from the 2016 Census, showed lower cultural diversity with 91.2% of its population born in Australia, 93.0% being citizens, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 46.8% of St Leonards' population. Islam's representation was notably higher than the regional average, comprising 0.9% compared to Rest of Tas.'s 1.4%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (34.7%), Australian (34.0%), and Scottish (7.9%). Significant differences existed in the representation of Dutch (2.0% vs region's 2.0%), Russian (0.3% vs 0.1%), and Croatian (0.5% vs 0.1%) ethnic groups.

St Leonards's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in St Leonards is 38 years, which is lower than the Rest of Tasmania's average of 45 but equal to Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of Tasmania, the 35-44 age group is over-represented in St Leonards at 16.0%, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.9%. Between the 2021 Census and present day, the proportion of the population aged 35 to 44 has increased from 14.8% to 16.0%, while the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 14.8% to 13.9%. By 2041, St Leonards' population is forecasted to see significant demographic changes. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 81 people (28%) from 293 to 375, while the 0-4 and 25-34 cohorts are expected to decline in population.