Leichhardt
Leichhardt stands out for a young, renter-heavy profile inside the Ipswich urban area. Its 4471 residents have a median age of 31, about 9 years below the national figure, while 64.8% rent and 91.3% live in separate houses. Household income sits at the 17.9th percentile, helping explain why rental demand matters more than ownership. Compared with nearby North Booval, Leichhardt's detached-house share gives it a less apartment-oriented feel, although the 7.5% vacancy rate points to some rental choice. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, and 12.6% of residents were born overseas.
Population
4,471
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,109/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers face a market where a current median house price is not available, so the clearest affordability signals are rent, mortgage costs and tenure. Weekly rent is $280, while the typical monthly mortgage figure is $1200 and mortgage payments equal 25.0% of household income. Renting at 64.8% is much higher than outright ownership at 13.6%, indicating that many households remain outside the owner market. The housing stock is mainly detached, with 91.3% separate houses, 60.2% three-bedroom homes and 29.3% with four or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of Ipswich, the 0.6% apartment share points to a more conventional house-and-yard search, but buyers should still test repayments against household income.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a market where a current median house price is not available, so the clearest affordability signals are rent, mortgage costs and tenure. Weekly rent is $280, while the typical monthly mortgage figure is $1200 and mortgage payments equal 25.0% of household income. Renting at 64.8% is much higher than outright ownership at 13.6%, indicating that many households remain outside the owner market. The housing stock is mainly detached, with 91.3% separate houses, 60.2% three-bedroom homes and 29.3% with four or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-oriented parts of Ipswich, the 0.6% apartment share points to a more conventional house-and-yard search, but buyers should still test repayments against household income.
For Investors
Leichhardt's investment case is built more on tenant depth than on a known purchase price. Renters account for 64.8% of occupied dwellings, far higher than outright owners at 13.6%, and the weekly rent is $280. A 7.5% vacancy rate provides more leasing choice than a tightly constrained market, so rental demand should be assessed carefully by property type and condition. Recorded development activity was 0 over the last 12 months, limiting any immediate new-supply signal. The wider growth trend is 1.51% annually, with migration classified as Balanced. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying with a score of 10, so the case is more established-income and occupancy focused than based on a rapid transformation story.
Schools in Leichhardt
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Immaculate Heart School (Leichhardt)
Leichhardt State School
Demographics
Leichhardt has a younger age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 31, or 9 years below the national comparison. University attainment is 12.5%, which is 17.6 percentage points below the national level, while the overseas-born share is 12.6%, 9 points below national. The profile leans Anglo, with English ancestry recorded for 1786 people, Irish for 473 and Scottish for 401. No religion is the largest reported affiliation at 2258 people, compared with 1683 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison, while 40.6% of families are one-parent families. Compared with nearby North Booval, Leichhardt presents as a more established, locally rooted community rather than an overseas-migration-led area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.3%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Leichhardt's housing profile is clear even without a current median house price. Separate houses account for 91.3% of dwellings, compared with 8.1% semi-detached homes and just 0.6% apartments. Three-bedroom properties dominate at 60.2%, followed by four or more bedrooms at 29.3%, while two-bedroom homes represent 6.8%. This stock aligns with an average household size of 2.5 and gives family-sized housing a larger role than compact apartments. Tenure is the defining feature: 64.8% rent, 21.0% have a mortgage and 13.6% own outright. Both rent-to-income at 25.2% and mortgage-to-income at 25.0% are close, but renting is substantially higher than outright ownership, making lease conditions and turnover important to local housing outcomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $280.
$550
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $550 · units $420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$580
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
134
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.4%
Couples with children
28.5%
Couples, no children
40.6%
Single parent
1,167
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Leichhardt's largest industry at 22.7%, well above Retail at 9.7%, followed by Manufacturing at 8.8%, Education at 8.6% and Public Administration at 7.9%. The occupational mix supports this practical employment base, led by 288 labourers, 249 community and personal service workers, 201 trades workers, 193 machinery and driver roles and 162 clerical and administrative workers. The labour force numbers 1751 people, with a participation rate of 51.8% and unemployment of 14.3%. Full-time employment includes 847 people, higher than the 483 working part-time. Household income is at the 17.9th percentile, while all four SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, indicating substantial socioeconomic disadvantage despite the relatively broad industry mix. That gap helps explain why affordability and access to work remain important local issues.
Unemployment
14.3%
Labour Force
1,751
Unemployed
251
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.5%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
51.8%
Employed
1,500
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.5%
Postgraduate
1.5%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
1,650
Transport to Work
Daily life in Leichhardt is strongly car dependent. Driving accounts for 79.8% of journeys, much higher than public transport at 3.0% and walking or cycling at 1.2%; working from home accounts for 8.2%. This makes access to a reliable vehicle more important than in better-connected inner suburbs. Families have access to 2 local schools, with one government state school and one Catholic non-state school. Enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address because they can cross suburb boundaries. A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety should be assessed using current Queensland Police information and street-level conditions rather than inferred from housing or transport data. The IRSAD, IRSD, IER and IEO measures are all in decile 1, the lowest decile, and 12.1% of residents need assistance, factors that make access to services particularly relevant.
Drive
79.8%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
8.2%
Population Forecast
+1.51%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedLeichhardt is classified as an established area, with growth running at 1.51% annually and migration described as Balanced. Across the wider area, population change is 23.1% over 10 years, a positive signal compared with a flat trajectory. The shift profile is Mixed: rent growth is 16.0%, the working-age share has increased by 1.1 percentage points and the senior share has increased by 1.4 points, while the young share has fallen by 1.8 points. Compared with the growth signal, the gentrification measure is restrained, with a score of 10 and a Not gentrifying stage. A separate shift score of 20 records Early signs, so the suburb appears to be changing gradually rather than undergoing a rapid redevelopment cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+48
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +29% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Leichhardt compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leichhardt a good suburb to live in?
Leichhardt may suit residents seeking detached housing and lower-cost renting, with 91.3% separate houses and weekly rent of $280. Its median age is 31, but car dependence is high at 79.8% and the four SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, so transport and service access should be considered.
What is the median house price in Leichhardt?
A current median house price is not available for Leichhardt. Useful affordability indicators are weekly rent of $280, a monthly mortgage figure of $1200 and mortgage payments equal to 25.0% of household income. Houses dominate the stock, accounting for 91.3% of dwellings.
What schools are in Leichhardt?
Leichhardt has 2 local schools: Immaculate Heart School, a Catholic non-state school, and Leichhardt State School, a government state school. Families should confirm the catchment for the exact address, as enrolment boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Leichhardt safe?
A current crime rate is not stated, so safety should not be inferred from the suburb's 79.8% car use or 64.8% rental share. Check recent Queensland Police information, the exact street and nearby facilities before deciding, particularly because socioeconomic measures sit in decile 1.
Is Leichhardt good for property investment?
Leichhardt has a large tenant base, with 64.8% renting, weekly rent of $280 and a vacancy rate of 7.5%. However, development activity was 0 over the last 12 months and the gentrification score is 10, so investors should focus on property condition, tenant demand and achievable rent rather than assume rapid capital growth.
How is Leichhardt's population changing?
Leichhardt has 4471 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 23.1% over 10 years, while the annual growth trend is 1.51% and migration is classified as Balanced. The trajectory is Mixed, with the young share down 1.8 percentage points and the senior share up 1.4 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 education open registers (school locations), 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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