St Leonards (Vic.)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of St Leonards (Vic.) as of Feb 2026 is around 3727. This reflects an increase of 185 people from the 2021 Census figure of 3542, representing a growth rate of 5.2%. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3514 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 371 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 127 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Over the past decade, from 2016 to 2026, St Leonards has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 4.0%, outpacing the SA4 region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 95% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to grow by 2130 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 63.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in St Leonards shows approximately 111 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 559 homes. As of FY26, 34 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 new residents are associated with each dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions. The average construction value of these dwellings is $559,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $7.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting St Leonards' primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of Vic., St Leonards records 80.0% more construction activity per person, demonstrating strong developer confidence in the location and greater choice for buyers. New building activity comprises 66.0% detached dwellings and 34.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options and creating a mix of housing opportunities across price brackets. This shift marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which are currently 92.0% houses, potentially due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. St Leonards has around 28 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 2,362 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

St Leonards has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely impacting the region. Notable ones include Lifestyle St Leonards - The Shores, Seaside Estate, Bluff Road Telecommunications Tower, and St Leonards Boat Ramp Upgrade. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates St Leonards faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

St Leonards has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 1,589 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 2.2% higher than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in St Leonards is lower at 54.0%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. Census responses show that 26.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.8% of St Leonards's workforce compared to 7.5% in Rest of Vic.. The area appears to have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels remained stable while employment decreased by 0.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Vic., where employment fell by 0.7% and labour force contracted by 0.6%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to St Leonards's employment mix indicates a potential local employment increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider localised population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The suburb of St Leonards has an income level lower than average nationally, according to latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. In St Leonards, the median income among taxpayers is $45,210 and the average income is $62,014. These figures compare to those of Rest of Vic., which are $50,954 and $62,728 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for St Leonards would be approximately $48,940 (median) and $67,130 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in St Leonards fall between the 12th and 15th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that 27.6% of St Leonards' population (1,028 individuals) have incomes within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 30.3% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in St Leonards, with only 84.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

St Leonards is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

St Leonards' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Leonards stood at 50.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 24.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,654, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. The median weekly rent in St Leonards was $350, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, St Leonards' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,654 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 67.5% of all households, including 16.6% couples with children, 41.5% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.5%, with lone person households at 29.8% and group households comprising 2.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

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 21.5%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.2%) and certificates (27.1%). Currently, 20.4% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, with 6.6% in primary, 5.8% in secondary, and 2.5% in tertiary education.

A substantial 20.4% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 6.6% in primary education, 5.8% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

St Leonards has 27 active public transport stops. These are served by four routes offering 457 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 264 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily, primarily by car (94%). On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 26.4% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 65 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

St Leonards's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

St Leonards' health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues affect both young and old residents equally. Private health cover is relatively low, at 51% (around 1,914 people). The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.5%) and mental health issues (10.1%), with 56.9% reporting no ailments, compared to 63.4% in the rest of Victoria. Working-age residents face higher chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 34.6% (1,289 people), compared to 23.9% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes for seniors are notably strong, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

St Leonards ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

St Leonards, surveyed in June 2021, showed low cultural diversity with 81.5% of its population born in Australia, 90.1% being citizens, and 91.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 50.3%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.0%), Australian (26.7%), and Irish (9.8%). Notable divergences included Maltese at 2.5% (vs regional 0.5%), French at 0.8% (vs regional 0.3%), and Dutch at 1.8% (vs regional 1.7%).

St Leonards ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in St Leonards is 56 years, which is notably higher than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age group constitutes 23.1% of the population in St Leonards, compared to Rest of Vic., while the 5 - 14 age group makes up 6.6%. This concentration of the 65 - 74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 21.4% to 23.1% of the population in St Leonards. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 12.9% to 10.5%, and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 19.0% to 17.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in St Leonards' age structure, with the 65 to 74 age group expected to grow by 52%, adding 451 residents to reach a total of 1,312.