Leeton
Manufacturing employs 15.6% of Leeton's workforce (370 workers), more than triple the national average, because the Riverina town is the production hub for SunRice and several food-processing plants. Population growth is essentially flat at -0.01% per year (-1 person), making Leeton one of the few Australian suburbs with a declining population trend. The median house price rose 17.3% in one year ($373,750 to $438,250), suggesting external buyer interest in a town where household income sits at just the 42.1st national percentile. Labourers form the single largest occupation group at 745 workers, ahead of Professionals (558) and Managers (532), a blue-collar dominance that is nationally unusual. SEIFA IEO decile 2 places Leeton in the lowest education quintile.
Population
9,170
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
132
Median House
$409K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $408,750 median makes Leeton one of the most affordable suburbs in this dataset, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1% is comfortably below the stress line. Detached houses dominate at 85.2%, with three-bedrooms at 42.9% and four-plus at 39.7% providing family-sized options. Outright ownership at 35.5% and mortgage holders at 32.9% together account for 68.4% of tenure. The 17.3% price jump in one year ($373,750 to $438,250) may reflect limited sales volume rather than a broad market lift. Leeton has 7 schools spanning primary through secondary, with ICSEA scores ranging from 826 (Wamoon Public) to 1,030 (St Joseph's Primary, Catholic), offering varied choice. Residential stability is high at 80.9%.
For Buyers
The $408,750 median makes Leeton one of the most affordable suburbs in this dataset, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1% is comfortably below the stress line. Detached houses dominate at 85.2%, with three-bedrooms at 42.9% and four-plus at 39.7% providing family-sized options. Outright ownership at 35.5% and mortgage holders at 32.9% together account for 68.4% of tenure. The 17.3% price jump in one year ($373,750 to $438,250) may reflect limited sales volume rather than a broad market lift. Leeton has 7 schools spanning primary through secondary, with ICSEA scores ranging from 826 (Wamoon Public) to 1,030 (St Joseph's Primary, Catholic), offering varied choice. Residential stability is high at 80.9%.
For Investors
Renters at 31.6% provide a moderate tenant pool. At $250/week rent against a $408,750 median, gross yield approaches 3.2%, reasonable for a rural NSW location. The vacancy rate of 8.3% is above average, reflecting the limited labour market in a flat-growth town. With 130 DAs lodged in 12 months, development activity is surprisingly high for a stable-population town, possibly reflecting agricultural infrastructure and renovation rather than new housing. Net overseas migration of 37 per year is minimal, and internal migration runs negative at 77 departures annually. The 19.1% turnover rate is low, meaning existing tenants stay longer, reducing void periods.
Development Activity
Total DAs
646
Last 12 Months
132
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Leeton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Primary School
K-6 · 353 students
St Francis De Sales Regional College
7-12 · 666 students
OneSchool Global NSW - Leeton
3-12 · 26 students
Leeton Public School
K-6 · 258 students
Leeton High School
7-12 · 458 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,264, with Italian (905) ranking third, a notable share reflecting the Riverina's postwar Italian farming community. Irish (999) and Scottish (878) round out the Anglo-Celtic majority. Just 13.1% were born overseas, 8.5 points below the national average. Italian (93 speakers), Punjabi (67) and Mandarin (62) lead non-English languages. University qualifications at 19.6% are 10.5 points below the national average, consistent with a manufacturing and farming economy. Median age of 38 is 2 years below national, and average household size of 2.5 matches the national norm. Couples with children (2,698) outnumber couples without (1,880) by 1.4:1.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.2%
Houses
3.5%
Townhouse
9.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses account for 85.2% of stock, with apartments at 9.8% and semi-detached at 3.5%. Three-bedroom homes at 42.9% and four-plus at 39.7% dominate, leaving small dwellings at under 18%. Outright owners at 35.5% and mortgage holders at 32.9% form the majority, with renters at 31.6%. The median rose from $373,750 (2024) to $438,250 (2025), a 17.3% increase, though this short series should be treated with caution in a low-volume market. Mortgage-to-income at 21.1% and rent-to-income at 17.5% are both low, indicating minimal housing stress. The affordability ratio (mortgage share 32.9% vs median age 38) suggests first-home-buyer activity is feasible.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$763
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.3%
Unoccupied
297
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
6,690
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education leads employment at 17.0% (404 workers), followed by Manufacturing at 15.6% (370), Healthcare at 13.0% (309), Public Admin at 8.1% (192) and Construction at 7.9% (187). The manufacturing share is more than triple the national average, driven by food-processing operations including SunRice. Labourers (745) are the top occupation, ahead of Professionals (558) and Managers (532), confirming a blue-collar workforce structure. Unemployment at 4.3% is moderate, and full-time employment at 69.6% is solid. SEIFA IEO decile 2 and IRSAD decile 2 place Leeton in the lowest quintile for both education and overall advantage. The participation rate of 56.1% leaves 2,369 people outside the labour force.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
4,899
Unemployed
194
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.6%
Part-time
26.1%
Participation
56.1%
Employed
3,913
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
13.1%
Dwellings
3,266
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.3%, with public transport at just 0.2% and walking/cycling at 4.9%. Seven schools span the educational spectrum, from Wamoon Public (ICSEA 826, 16 students) to St Joseph's Primary (ICSEA 1,030, 353 students, Catholic). St Francis De Sales Regional College (ICSEA 1,018, 666 students, Catholic Secondary) and Leeton High School (ICSEA 908, 458 students, Government Secondary) provide secondary options. SEIFA IRSAD decile 2 and IRSD decile 3 confirm below-average advantage. The 7.0% need-assistance rate (596 people) is above average. Mortgage-to-income at 21.1% and rent-to-income at 17.5% are both low, offering financial breathing room despite the low absolute incomes.
Drive
86.3%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.01%/yr
(-1 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is essentially zero at -0.01% per year (-1 person), with the suburb's population hovering around 10,335. Net internal migration is negative at 77 departures per year, while overseas migration adds only 37. The 10-year population change of 4.5% is well below the national average. The young share fell 2.6 percentage points over the decade, while the senior share grew 2.8 points, confirming a classic rural-aging trajectory. Real income grew 24.8% over the decade, suggesting improving economic conditions for those who remain. The median price jump of 17.3% in one year may attract speculative interest, but the flat population trend limits long-term demand fundamentals.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+37
Net Internal / yr
-77
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Leeton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leeton a good suburb to live in?
Leeton suits buyers wanting affordable country living ($408,750 median, 85.2% detached housing) with low financial stress (mortgage-to-income 21.1%). Trade-offs include SEIFA decile 2 disadvantage, 0.2% public transport, and limited population growth. The 7 schools provide choice across sectors and levels.
What is the median house price in Leeton?
The median is $408,750 (PSI-derived, 2024-2025), rising 17.3% from $373,750 to $438,250 in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,300 produce a 21.1% mortgage-to-income ratio. Median weekly rent is $250, yielding approximately 3.2% gross.
What schools are in Leeton?
Seven schools serve the suburb. St Joseph's Primary (ICSEA 1,030, 353 students, Catholic) and St Francis De Sales Regional College (ICSEA 1,018, 666 students, Catholic Secondary) lead. Leeton Public School (976, 258, Government) and Leeton High School (908, 458, Government) provide state options. ICSEA scores range from 826 to 1,030.
Is Leeton safe?
Crime data is not available for Leeton in the current dataset. SEIFA IRSD decile 3 indicates moderate disadvantage. The 80.9% residential stability rate and 18.3% volunteering rate suggest an engaged community. The 7.0% need-assistance rate (596 people) is above the national average.
Is Leeton good for property investment?
The 31.6% renter share and $250/week rent against a $408,750 price produce approximately 3.2% gross yield. The 8.3% vacancy rate is moderate. The critical risk is flat population growth (-0.01%/yr), with net internal outflows of 77 per year. However, 130 DAs in 12 months and a 17.3% price rise signal some activity.
How is Leeton's population changing?
Population is essentially flat at -0.01% per year (-1 person), hovering around 10,335. The 10-year change of 4.5% is well below the national average. Internal migration is negative at 77 departures per year. The senior share grew 2.8 percentage points over the decade while the young share fell 2.6 points.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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