Waverley - St Leonards
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Waverley - St Leonards' population is approximately 4,289 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 357 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,932. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 4,114 in June 2024 and an additional 122 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 77 persons per square kilometer. Waverley - St Leonards' population growth rate of 9.1% since the 2021 census surpassed both the SA3 area (3.6%) and the state, indicating significant growth within the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.3% to overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and interstate migration also playing positive roles.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Future population dynamics predict an increase just below Australia's regional median by 2041, based on the latest numbers. The area is expected to gain 235 persons by 2041, recording a total growth rate of 1.4% over the 17 years.

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

Waverley - St Leonards has averaged approximately 23 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 117 dwellings approved between Financial Year 2021 and Financial Year 2025. As of June 2026, there have been 6 dwelling approvals this financial year. On average, each dwelling has resulted in approximately 2.4 new residents over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is around $458,000. This financial year, there have been $3.7 million in commercial development approvals recorded, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Rest of Tasmania, Waverley - St Leonards has seen slightly more development activity, with 32.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New development consists predominantly of standalone homes at 95.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up the remaining 5.0%. This preserves the area's low density nature, attracting space-seeking buyers. With approximately 156 people per dwelling approval, Waverley - St Leonards exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to population forecasts, the area is expected to gain around 60 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.

Waverley - St Leonards has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Twenty-five projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area, with key ones including Cedar Grove Estate, Peacehaven Aged Care Redevelopment, Proposed Dwelling at 38 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill 7250, and Proposed Dwelling & Shed at 18 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill 7250. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Waverley - St Leonards shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Waverley - St Leonards has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well represented.

The unemployment rate is 4.4%. As of June 2025, 2,029 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is higher than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%, but workforce participation is higher at 61.2% compared to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 2.8%, versus the regional average of 8.4%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.4% while employment declined by 1.3%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Tas. saw employment fall by 0.5%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%, outperforming the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's May 2025 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Waverley - St Leonards' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5%% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Waverley - St Leonards' median income among taxpayers was $46,616. The average income was $58,627. This is below the national average. Rest of Tas.'s median income was $47,358 with an average of $57,384. As of March 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022 are approximately $52,182 for median income and $65,627 for average income. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Waverley - St Leonards fall between the 21st and 23rd percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 31.3% of locals (1,342 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the metropolitan region where 28.5% fall within this range. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains, ranking at the 24th percentile nationally.

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

In Waverley - St Leonards, as per the latest Census, 89.9% of dwellings were houses with 10.0% being other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This compares to Non-Metro Tas., where 82.1% were houses and 17.9% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Waverley - St Leonards stood at 30.3%, with mortgaged properties at 40.6% and rented ones at 29.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,161, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,300. The median weekly rent in the area was $250, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $280. Nationally, Waverley - St Leonards' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,161 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 70.8% of all households, including 26.1% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 18.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.2%, with lone person households at 26.3% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3 people.

Waverley - St Leonards faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 13.1%, 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 common at 9.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (31.0%).

Educational participation is high at 28.4%, including primary education (11.8%), secondary education (8.3%), and tertiary education (3.0%). Waverley-St Leonards has 4 schools with a combined enrollment of 617 students, offering balanced educational opportunities typical of Australian schools (ICSEA: 968). These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. School places per 100 residents stand at 14.4, below the regional average of 18.4, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

Waverley - St Leonards has 35 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of buses on 72 individual routes, collectively facilitating 6,251 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents on average located 242 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 893 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 178 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Waverley - St Leonards is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Waverley - St Leonards faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups have high prevalence rates for common health conditions.

Only 49% of the total population has private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues affect 11.7% of residents, while asthma impacts 10.2%. In contrast, 62.3% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% in Rest of Tas.. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.1%, with 648 people, compared to the Rest of Tas.'s 19.9%. Health outcomes among seniors align with those of the general population.

The latest Census data sees Waverley - St Leonards placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Waverley-St Leonards, as per the census data on 28 June 2011, exhibited below-average cultural diversity with 92.5% of its population being citizens born in Australia who predominantly spoke English at home (96.7%) and identified as Christian (41.6%). Notably, Hinduism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Tasmania, comprising 0.7% versus 2.5%. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (35.8%), English (35.0%), and Scottish (7.1%).

Divergences included Dutch being slightly overrepresented at 1.9%, Australian Aboriginal notably higher at 3.6%, and Macedonian present at a negligible 0.1%.

Waverley - St Leonards's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Waverley - St Leonards is 37 years, significantly below Rest of Tas.'s average of 45 years. This figure is similarly essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Relative to Rest of Tas., Waverley - St Leonards has a higher concentration of residents aged 35-44 (15.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (8.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 14.1% to 15.3% of the population in Waverley - St Leonards. Conversely, the age group of 65 to 74 has declined from 9.2% to 8.6%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Waverley - St Leonards's age structure. Leading this shift is the projected growth of the 45 to 54 age group by 28%, increasing from 480 people to 617. Conversely, the population of the 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 age groups are expected to decline.