Waverley - St Leonards

Population growth drivers in Waverley - St Leonards are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Waverley - St Leonards' population is around 4,250 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 318 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,932 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,114 in June 2024 and an additional 114 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 77 persons per square kilometer. Waverley - St Leonards' growth rate of 8.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (4.0%) and the state, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.3% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts 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. Anticipating future population dynamics, an increase just below Australia's regional median is expected for Waverley - St Leonards, with the area expected to gain 235 persons by 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total gain of 2.3% over the 17 years.

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

Waverley - St Leonards averaged approximately 23 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with a total of 117 homes approved during this period. In FY-26, up until now, there have been 29 dwellings approved. The average number of new residents per year for each dwelling has been around 2.4 over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost value of $340,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting a focus on quality construction. This financial year alone, there have been $3.7 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Waverley - St Leonards demonstrates moderately higher construction activity, with 32.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

This balance between buyer choice and support for current property values is evident in the area's development patterns. New development consists primarily of standalone homes, with approximately 95.0% of approvals for this type of housing, and around 5.0% for medium and high-density housing. This preserves the area's low-density nature while still offering some options for buyers seeking different types of properties. With roughly 156 people per dwelling approval, Waverley - St Leonards exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Looking ahead to 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by approximately 99 residents. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Waverley - St Leonards has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Cedar Grove Estate, Residential dwelling and vegetation removal at 38 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill, Dwelling and Shed at 18 Casuarina Dr, Summerhill 7250, and Peacehaven Aged Care Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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 4.3%.

As of September 2025, 2,019 residents are employed. The unemployment rate is higher than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.8%, by 0.5%. Workforce participation is at 63.5%, slightly higher than Rest of Tas.'s 58.7%. Census data shows that only 4.5% of residents work from home.

Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction has a particularly high representation, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 2.8%, compared to the regional average of 8.4%. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.4% while employment declined by 2.5%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at around 4.3%. In contrast, Rest of Tas. saw employment grow by 0.7% and the labour force expand by 0.5%, with a decrease in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, suggest that national employment will increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Waverley - St Leonards's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for local population changes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Waverley - St Leonards SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $49,535 and an average of $61,693. This is below the national average. Rest of Tas.'s median was $49,689 with an average of $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $54,290 (median) and $67,616 (average). The 2021 Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Waverley - St Leonards fall between the 20th and 22nd percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows 31.3% of locals (1,330 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, similar to the metropolitan region's 28.5%. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains, ranking at the 23rd percentile nationally.

Waverley - St Leonards is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Waverley - St Leonards, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 89.9% houses and 10.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is similar to Non-Metro Tas., which had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waverley - St Leonards stood at 30.3%, with the rest being mortgaged (40.6%) or rented (29.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,161, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $250, the same as Non-Metro Tas.'s figure. Nationally, Waverley - St Leonards's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 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 comprise 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.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common among residents with university qualifications, at 9.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 39.3% of residents aged 15 and above, including advanced diplomas (8.3%) and certificates (31.0%). Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (11.8%), secondary education (8.3%), and tertiary education (3.0%).

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, all for buses. These stops are served by 143 different routes, offering a total of 11,272 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is good, with residents typically living 242 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 96%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 4.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,610 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 322 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Waverley - St Leonards is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Waverley - St Leonards faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions impact both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low in the area, with approximately 50% of the total population (~2,116 people) having it, compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.7 and 10.2% of residents respectively. However, 62.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 62.0% in Rest of Tas.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 15.1% of residents aged 65 and over (643 people), which is lower than the 24.3% in Rest of Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than those for 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 was found to have low cultural diversity, with 92.5% of its population being Australian citizens born in Australia who speak English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, comprising 41.6%. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to regional averages, making up 0.7% versus 1.1%.

The top three ancestral groups are Australian (35.8%), English (35.0%), and Scottish (7.1%). Notable ethnic group divergences include Dutch at 1.9% versus 1.7%, Australian Aboriginal at 3.6% versus 4.1%, and Macedonian at 0.1% versus 0%.

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

The median age in Waverley - St Leonards is 37 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Tas.'s average of 45 years. This figure is also aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Tas., Waverley - St Leonards has a higher percentage 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 increased from 14.1% to 15.3% of the population in Waverley - St Leonards. Conversely, the age group of 65 to 74 decreased from 9.2% to 8.6%. Looking forward to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in the age structure of Waverley - St Leonards. The 45 to 54 age group is expected to grow by 30%, from 476 people to 617 people. Conversely, the 25 to 34 and 5 to 14 age groups are projected to experience population declines.