Leonay
Household income in the 91.9th percentile nationally, yet median house prices that stayed below $1.3 million in 2025, makes Leonay one of the more affordable high-income pockets in the Penrith region. The suburb is heavily owner-occupied, with 42.1% owning outright and only 10.5% renting, a profile closer to an established regional satellite than a speculative growth market. At a median age of 41, one year above the national figure, and with 98.1% separate houses, this is a suburb that has largely settled into its character. The 3.5% unemployment rate sits comfortably below state averages, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% gives existing owners genuine financial breathing room.
Population
2,582
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,466/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $1,300,000 in 2025, up 10.6% from $1,175,000 in 2024. That rise combines with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to most Sydney-adjacent markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.1%, with apartments at just 0.3%. Bedrooms skew large: 65.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 33.0% have three, making Leonay better suited to families than single buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,339, because household incomes sit in the 91.9th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $1,300,000 in 2025, up 10.6% from $1,175,000 in 2024. That rise combines with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable compared to most Sydney-adjacent markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.1%, with apartments at just 0.3%. Bedrooms skew large: 65.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 33.0% have three, making Leonay better suited to families than single buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,339, because household incomes sit in the 91.9th percentile nationally.
For Investors
A 10.5% renter share is thin, and the 1.9% vacancy rate confirms the rental market is tight. Weekly rent of $530 against a $1,300,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, below typical investment benchmarks. Net internal migration runs at minus 108 per year, with overseas arrivals adding 53 annually. Development activity in the past 12 months reached 20 applications, primarily alterations rather than new supply. Capital growth is the stronger return pathway, backed by the 10.6% price rise from 2024 to 2025. The suburb ranks at IRSD decile 8 nationally, supporting long-term price stability.
Development Activity
Total DAs
135
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 41 is one year above the national figure, and the aging trend is pronounced: the senior share rose 5.4 points while the working-age share fell 4.1 points over the decade. University qualifications at 33.0% sit 2.9 percentage points above national. Only 17.2% were born overseas, which is 4.4 points below the national average. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (990), Irish (377) and Scottish (269). Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, reflecting the large family homes and low 10.5% renter share.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.1%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Leonay is heavily owner-dominated: 42.1% own outright and 47.3% carry a mortgage, leaving just 10.5% renting, well below the national renter share. That balance means price movements are driven by owner-occupier demand rather than investor turnover. The stock is almost entirely detached houses at 98.1%, with semi-detached at 1.6% and apartments at just 0.3%. Dwellings are large, with 65.7% having four or more bedrooms and 33.0% three bedrooms. The price history shows a move from $1,175,000 in 2024 to $1,300,000 in 2025, a 10.6% rise. Rent-to-income sits at 21.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, so the small renter cohort faces affordable housing costs relative to their incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,339
Rent / wk
$530
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,051
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
1.9%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.1%
Couples, no children
2,321
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education (15.3%) and Healthcare (14.9%) are the two largest industries, together accounting for nearly one in three workers through public-sector employment in the broader Penrith area. Construction (14.2%) ranks third. Professionals (322) and Managers (231) lead by occupation. The unemployment rate of 3.5% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 66.6% is solid. IRSD decile 8 and IER decile 8 confirm the suburb ranks in the upper tier nationally on relative advantage and economic resources, above the state median.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
7,666
Unemployed
149
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.6%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
58.8%
Employed
1,167
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.0%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
17.2%
Dwellings
879
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 92.5% of commuters, with public transport used by just 1.8%, well below state averages. That reflects Leonay's low-density, house-dominated layout where train access requires travel to Penrith station. The suburb scores IRSD decile 8 nationally for low disadvantage. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 21.5% and mortgage-to-income at 21.9% both sit below the 30% threshold. Only 3.8% of residents (96 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded within Leonay's boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Penrith and Emu Plains institutions.
Drive
92.5%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.24%/yr
(-34 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population change is minus 0.24%, or about 34 fewer residents per year. Medium forecasts project a slow decline from 13,876 in 2026 to 13,706 by 2031, below current levels. Net internal outflow of 108 per year is the primary drag, partially offset by 53 overseas arrivals annually. The 10-year change of 0.2% sits well below the national average growth rate. The gentrification score is low and the suburb is classified as not gentrifying. Affordability held steady between 48.0% in 2011 and 46.8% in 2021, and real income growth of 12.2% over the decade tracked broadly in line with inflation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+53
Net Internal / yr
-108
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -108/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Leonay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leonay a good suburb to live in?
Leonay ranks at IRSD decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7 nationally, placing it in the upper tier for low disadvantage and relative advantage. Household income sits in the 91.9th percentile nationally, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 21.9%. The trade-offs are high car dependence at 92.5% of commuters and limited local amenity in a suburb of 2,582 people.
What is the median house price in Leonay?
The median house price reached $1,300,000 in 2025, up 10.6% from $1,175,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,339. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9% is below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable for the suburb's high-income households.
What schools are in Leonay?
No schools are recorded inside the Leonay boundary in this dataset. Families use schools in neighbouring Penrith and Emu Plains. The local population is well-educated, with 33.0% holding university qualifications, which is 2.9 percentage points above the national average.
Is Leonay safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Leonay in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores IRSD decile 8 nationally for low disadvantage, household income sits in the 91.9th percentile, and only 3.8% of the 2,582 residents (96 people) need daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage setting.
Is Leonay good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $530 against a $1,300,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.1%, which is below typical investment benchmarks. The 1.9% vacancy rate is tight, and 20 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new supply. The 10.6% price rise from 2024 to 2025 makes capital growth the stronger argument for investors.
How is Leonay's population changing?
Population growth is minus 0.24% annually, or about 34 fewer residents per year. The 10-year change was just 0.2% across the broader area. Net internal migration runs at minus 108 per year, partially offset by 53 overseas arrivals annually. Medium forecasts project a slow decline from around 13,876 in 2026 to 13,706 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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