Leongatha

An assessment of population growth drivers in Leongatha reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Leongatha's population is approximately 11,895 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 393 people, a growth rate of 3.4%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 11,502. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,735 in June 2024 and an additional 154 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 14.9 persons per square kilometer. Leongatha's growth rate is within 2.6 percentage points of the non-metro area (6.0%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 65.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, Leongatha's population is expected to decline by 941 persons by 2041, with a projected increase of 268 people in the 25 to 34 age group specifically.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Leongatha recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Leongatha has seen approximately 54 new homes approved annually, with a total of 272 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 16 homes have been approved so far. Over these five years, an average of one new resident has been recorded per year for each dwelling constructed.

This suggests that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buyer choices and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections. The average construction cost value of new homes in Leongatha is $544,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In the current financial year, $16.4 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to residential growth. However, Leongatha shows a substantially reduced construction rate, with 59.0% fewer new properties being built per person than the regional average.

This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. New building activity in Leongatha is predominantly standalone homes at 92.0%, with townhouses or apartments making up the remaining 8.0%. This maintains the area's traditional low-density character, focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With approximately 326 people per dwelling approval, Leongatha exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Leongatha may experience less housing pressure compared to other areas, creating favourable conditions for buyers in the market for new properties.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 13 projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Leongatha Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Great Southern Rail Trail Leongatha Precinct Development, Leongatha Business Precinct (Bair Street) Redevelopment, and Mitchell's Rise Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis indicates Leongatha maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

Leongatha has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 2.6% as of June 2025. It has 5,603 residents in work, with an unemployment rate 1.2% lower than Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Vic.'s at 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction. Leongatha has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 14.8% compared to the regional average of 16.8%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, Leongatha's labour force decreased by 0.7% and employment declined by 1.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.4 percentage points. This mirrors Rest of Vic.'s trends. State-level data to Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Leongatha's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

Leongatha SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $45,523 and an average of $56,837 in financial year 2022. These figures are lower than the national averages of $48,741 for median income and $60,693 for average income in Rest of Vic. By September 2025, estimates suggest these incomes would have increased to approximately $51,059 (median) and $63,748 (average), based on a 12.16% growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census places Leongatha's household, family, and personal incomes between the 21st and 22nd percentiles nationally. Most locals, about 29.6%, or 3,520 people, fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to the broader area's pattern at 30.3%. Despite modest housing costs, with 87.6% of income retained, Leongatha ranks at only the 26th percentile nationally for total disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Leongatha's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.3% houses and 3.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic. had 93.3% houses and 6.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Leongatha stood at 48.0%, with the rest being mortgaged (34.1%) or rented (17.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,457, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,450. The median weekly rent in Leongatha was $270, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s figure of $295. Nationally, Leongatha's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 69.0% of all households, including 26.2% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.0%, with lone person households at 29.3% and group households comprising 1.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is larger than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.3 people.

Educational attainment in Leongatha aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 19.7%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (28.2%). Educational participation is high at 28.3%, with 11.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.3% in primary education, 9.1% in secondary education, and 2.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Leongatha has 14 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that together facilitate 185 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is limited, with residents on average located 670 meters from the nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are approximately 26 trips across all routes, resulting in about 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Leongatha faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~5,745 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.6 and 8.2% of residents respectively, while 63.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 61.6% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 25.9% of residents aged 65 and over (3,079 people), which is lower than the 28.6% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Leongatha, as per the findings, exhibited lower than average cultural diversity. The population born in Australia constituted 88.4%, with 90.8% being citizens and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion, accounting for 45.3% of Leongatha's population.

Notably, Judaism showed an overrepresentation, comprising 0.1% compared to the regional average of 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.2%), Australian (30.8%), and Irish (9.4%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Dutch was overrepresented at 3.1% (versus 2.5% regionally), Scottish also had an equal representation at 9.3%, and Italian stood at 3.4% (matching the regional average).

Leongatha hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Leongatha's median age is 47 years, significantly higher than the Rest of Vic average of 43 and the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent at 14.2%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 8.2%. Between 2021 and now, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 9.7% to 11.6%, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 12.2%. By 2041, Leongatha's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 20%, adding 194 people to reach 1,168 from 973. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.