VIC 3691 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Leneva

Almost doubling in population over the past decade, Leneva has grown 98.4% to reach 1,317 residents while maintaining household incomes in the 88.2nd percentile nationally. Every dwelling here is a separate house, making it one of the most detached-dominant suburbs in regional Victoria, and 69.7% of those homes have four or more bedrooms, signalling large family living on spacious blocks. The suburb sits at SEIFA IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7, well above the national midpoint, with a median age of 33 that is 7.0 years below the national figure.

Leneva urban fabric map

Population

1,317

Median Age

33.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,305/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

12

Median House

$770K

Apr-Jun 2024

81.4 km²· 16.2 people/km²· Family income $2,459/wk

The median house price reached $770,000 in April-June 2024, up from $647,500 in late 2023, representing an 18.9% rise across just two quarters. Over the full 14-year period since 2013, prices have increased 113% from $361,500, a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment trade-off, and 69.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms, which suits growing families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 against a household weekly income of $2,305, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability ratio is materially lower than what buyers in metropolitan Melbourne typically carry.

For Buyers

The median house price reached $770,000 in April-June 2024, up from $647,500 in late 2023, representing an 18.9% rise across just two quarters. Over the full 14-year period since 2013, prices have increased 113% from $361,500, a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. Every dwelling is a separate house, so buyers face no apartment trade-off, and 69.7% of homes have four or more bedrooms, which suits growing families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 against a household weekly income of $2,305, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4%, well below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability ratio is materially lower than what buyers in metropolitan Melbourne typically carry.

For Investors

Renters make up 16.3% of households, below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $390. Against the $770,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.6%, modest but consistent with the owner-occupier character of the suburb. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated, reflecting the relatively thin rental pool in a detached-house-only suburb. Population growth is strong at 3.59% annually with 524 new residents expected per year, driven primarily by internal migration averaging 259 net arrivals annually. Eleven development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, including a 66-lot subdivision, indicating ongoing land release that supports long-term housing supply.

Development Activity

Total DAs

25

Last 12 Months

12

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+140.0%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Subdivision
14
Other
3

Schools in Leneva iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Grace Christian College Wodonga

ICSEA 1036 Combined Independent

Prep-12 · 149 students

Demographics

The median age of 33 sits 7.0 years below the national figure, placing Leneva firmly in the young-family segment rather than the aging profile common across regional Victoria. Average household size is 3.0, which is 0.5 above the national average, consistent with couples-with-children dominating at 656 families versus only 232 couples without children. University qualifications reach 32.0%, which is 1.9 percentage points above the national figure, a notable outcome for a low-density regional suburb. Overseas-born residents account for 11.4%, which is 10.2 percentage points below national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (543), Irish (169) and Scottish (144) heritage, and volunteering runs at 17.0%.

Age Distribution

0-14
25.8%
15-24
10.6%
25-44
33.5%
45-64
20.0%
65+
9.3%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
N/A
2 bed
2.4%
3 bed
27.9%
4+ bed
69.7%

Dwelling Structure

100.0%

Houses

N/A

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 24.5% Mortgage 59.2% Rent 16.3%

All 100% of Leneva dwellings are separate houses, with no apartments or semi-detached homes recorded. The bedroom profile skews large: 69.7% have four or more bedrooms and 27.9% have three bedrooms, so two-bedroom homes are effectively absent at just 2.4%. Tenure is mortgage-heavy at 59.2% carrying a home loan, with only 24.5% owning outright and 16.3% renting, a profile typical of newer growth suburbs attracting first and second home buyers. Prices rose from $361,500 in 2013 to $770,000 in mid-2024, a 113% gain over 14 years. The rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% is below stress thresholds, confirming that housing costs remain manageable relative to local incomes compared to many metropolitan markets.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,733

Rent / wk

$390

HH Size

3.0

Personal Income / wk

$1,074

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

5.5%

Unoccupied

25

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

16.9%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.4%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
543
Irish
169
Scottish
144
German
95
Other
85
Italian
54

Household Composition

20.2%

Couples, no children

1,148

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is the dominant employer at 22.5% of the local workforce (117 workers), a share that reflects proximity to Albury-Wodonga's hospital precinct. Education follows at 13.3% (69 workers), then Construction at 11.7% (61), Public Administration at 11.2% (58) and Manufacturing at 9.2% (48). By occupation, Professionals account for 183 workers and Managers 105, together comprising around 45% of employed residents. The unemployment rate of 1.7% is low by any national standard, and full-time employment reaches 65.7% of the employed base. The SEIFA IEO decile of 7 and IER decile of 9 indicate above-average education and occupation levels as well as strong household economic resources compared to national benchmarks.

Unemployment

2.1%

Labour Force

8,050

Unemployed

170

Quarterly Trend

Jun-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
7
Disadvantage
8
Economic resources
9
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

65.7%

Part-time

32.6%

Participation

72.4%

Employed

690

Occupations

Professionals 183
Managers 105
Community/Personal 91
Clerical/Admin 74
Sales 68
Machinery/Drivers 51
Labourers 49

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.5%
Education 13.3%
Construction 11.7%
Public Admin 11.2%
Manufacturing 9.2%

University

32.0%

Postgraduate

6.5%

Born Overseas

11.4%

Dwellings

428

Transport to Work

Car dependency is high, with 91.6% of residents driving to work, compared to national norms, and only 0.5% using public transport, which reflects the low-density, regional setting 81.4 km2 in area. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on educational facilities in neighbouring Albury or Wodonga. The crime rate of 37.2 incidents per 1,000 residents covers 49 total offences, led by property and deception offences (26). The IRSAD decile of 7 places the suburb above the national median on relative advantage. Only 4.6% of residents need daily assistance, and housing stress indicators are healthy with mortgage-to-income at 17.4% and rent-to-income at 16.9%, both well below stress thresholds.

Drive

91.6%

Public Transport

0.5%

Walk / Cycle

2.1%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+3.59%/yr

(+524 people/yr)

Established

Leneva's population grew 98.4% over the past decade, one of the fastest rates in the region, and the current SA2 area registered 14,578 residents in 2025. Annual growth of 3.59% is projected to continue, adding roughly 524 people per year, with the medium forecast reaching 17,690 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary engine at 259 net arrivals per year, supplemented by 70 net overseas migrants annually. The gentrification stage is classified as early signs with a score of 31, which aligns with rising affordability pressure: the affordability ratio worsened from 36.6% in 2011 to 39.4% in 2021, and rent growth reached 48.1% over the period. Real income grew 11.9% over the decade, below the pace of rent, suggesting housing costs are gradually outpacing earnings.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Internal Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+70

Net Internal / yr

+259

0

Gentrification Signal

New development

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

49

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

37.2

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
26
Justice procedures offences
12
Crimes against the person
10
Public order and security offences
1

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Leneva compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 26%
Household Income
Top 12%
Rent Level
Top 19%
Renters
Bottom 38%
Uni Educated
Top 31%
Public Transport
Bottom 4%
Born Overseas
Bottom 37%
Density
Top 38%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Leneva a good suburb to live in?

Leneva offers large family homes, low housing stress and a young community. Household incomes sit in the 88.2nd percentile nationally and the SEIFA IRSD decile is 8, above the national midpoint. The main trade-off is high car dependency at 91.6% driving, with limited public transport given the 81.4 km2 low-density layout.

What is the median house price in Leneva?

The median house price is $770,000, recorded in April-June 2024. That figure represents 113% growth from $361,500 in 2013, a CAGR of 5.5% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.4%, below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Leneva?

No schools are recorded inside the Leneva suburb boundary in this dataset. Families access educational facilities in nearby Albury and Wodonga. Locally, 32.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 1.9 percentage points above the national figure, suggesting education is a priority for households in the area.

Is Leneva safe?

Leneva recorded 49 total offences in the most recent year, a rate of 37.2 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 26 of those incidents. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 8 places the suburb well above the national median on relative disadvantage measures, which correlates with lower crime risk compared to more disadvantaged areas.

Is Leneva good for property investment?

The suburb has delivered 113% price growth since 2013 at a CAGR of 5.5%. Annual population growth of 3.59% and net internal migration of 259 residents per year support ongoing demand. The 16.3% renter share and $390 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 2.6%. The 5.5% vacancy rate is worth monitoring before purchasing an investment property.

How is Leneva's population changing?

The local SA2 area grew from around 7,300 residents in 2011 to 14,578 in 2025, a 98.4% increase over the decade. Annual growth runs at 3.59%, adding approximately 524 residents per year, with internal migration the primary driver at 259 net arrivals annually. The medium forecast projects continued growth to 17,690 by 2031.

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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