Leongatha
Leongatha's most distinctive feature is its established, detached-house profile: 5,869 residents, a median age of 45, and 94.8% of dwellings being separate houses. Household income is at the 23.7th percentile, helping explain why the town remains more affordable than many larger Victorian markets. Buyers comparing Leongatha with nearby Korumburra can focus on its 76.0% car-driver rate, 50.7% share of 3-bedroom homes and 11.5% work-from-home rate. Its profile is older and less university-qualified than Australia overall, but stable affordability supports a practical regional lifestyle.
Population
5,869
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
45
Median House
$585K
October to December 2025
The local measure records no mortgage stress flag, so repayments look manageable for households whose income matches the area profile. The stock is strongly detached, with 94.8% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes account for 50.7% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.5%. Prices are 7.1% below the Apr-Jun 2025 peak, giving buyers more negotiating context than a market still at its high. Compared with apartment-oriented locations, Leongatha suits families or downsizers seeking conventional houses, although the 45.0% outright-ownership rate can limit resale turnover. Nearby Korumburra is a useful comparison point when assessing space, price and commute priorities.
For Buyers
The local measure records no mortgage stress flag, so repayments look manageable for households whose income matches the area profile. The stock is strongly detached, with 94.8% separate houses, while 3-bedroom homes account for 50.7% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.5%. Prices are 7.1% below the Apr-Jun 2025 peak, giving buyers more negotiating context than a market still at its high. Compared with apartment-oriented locations, Leongatha suits families or downsizers seeking conventional houses, although the 45.0% outright-ownership rate can limit resale turnover. Nearby Korumburra is a useful comparison point when assessing space, price and commute priorities.
For Investors
Leongatha's investment case is income-led rather than speculative. Weekly rent is $270, and 23.1% of households rent, well below the 45.0% owning outright, so demand comes from a smaller rental segment than the owner base. The 8.4% vacancy rate gives tenants more choice than a tightly supplied market, which can limit short-term rent pressure even though rents have risen 28.6% in the longer trend. A balanced migration driver and 0.65% annual growth point to steady rather than rapid expansion. With 42 development applications in 12 months, investors should check whether new subdivisions or changes of use add competing stock. This suits investors prioritising yield and essential services over high-growth speculation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
65
Last 12 Months
45
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2150.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Leongatha
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Leongatha Primary School
St Laurence O'Toole School
Leongatha Secondary College
Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College
South Gippsland Specialist School
Demographics
Leongatha has an older profile than Australia overall: the median age is 45, or 5 years above the national figure, and the senior share has increased 7.1 percentage points. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below the national measure, consistent with 45.5% of families being couples without children and 36.0% couples with children. University attainment is 23.1%, 7 percentage points below national, while 11.6% of residents were born overseas, 10 points below national. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 2,657, 738 and 730, with Italian ancestry at 264. No religion is recorded for 2,779 people versus 2,611 identifying with Christianity. Turnover is 19.5%, meaning 80.5% stayed at the same address, so social continuity is higher than churn. Compared with nearby Korumburra, households considering Leongatha should expect an older, Anglo-leaning population and plan services around longer-term residency.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
2.9%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Leongatha's housing market is overwhelmingly detached and owner-oriented. Separate houses represent 94.8% of stock, while 45.0% is owned outright, 30.4% is mortgaged and 23.1% rented. Three-bedroom homes account for 50.7% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.5%, reinforcing a family-sized stock profile. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, this mix provides less unit choice but more conventional houses. The 7.1% peak-to-latest decline and stable affordability, moving from 40.9% in 2011 to 40.4% in 2021, suggest buyers should separate long-run growth from short-term price swings.
Mortgage / mo
$1,430
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$270
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$641
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
222
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.0%
Couples with children
45.5%
Couples, no children
17.5%
Single parent
1,585
Total families
Economy & Employment
Leongatha's employment base is anchored by healthcare at 21.3% of jobs, followed by education at 13.7%, construction at 12.9%, manufacturing at 6.6% and other services at 6.3%. That mix supports local demand because health, education and trades are less dependent on a single rural activity. The labour force is 2,551, participation is 53.2%, unemployment is 2.7% and full-time employment is 53.8%, while 1,334 people work full time and 973 part time. Professionals number 427 and trades 404, ahead of community and personal service roles and labourers at 317 each. Household income sits at the 23.7th percentile, below the national midpoint, despite the IER ranking at decile 6. IEO and IRSAD are both decile 4, while IRSD is decile 5, so economic resources rank higher than education and broad advantage. This uneven profile helps explain why essential-service employment can coexist with modest household spending power.
Unemployment
2.7%
Labour Force
2,551
Unemployed
70
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.8%
Part-time
39.2%
Participation
53.2%
Employed
2,481
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.1%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
11.6%
Dwellings
2,421
Transport to Work
Leongatha is practical for residents who drive: 76.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.1% using public transport and 7.0% walking or cycling. Work from home accounts for 11.5%, which can reduce commuting needs for some households, but daily access to jobs and services still favours a car. Five local schools cover primary, secondary and special education across government and Catholic sectors, including 2 Catholic schools, 2 government mainstream schools and 1 government specialist school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because they cut across suburb boundaries. Safety needs realistic scrutiny: recorded crime was 780 offences, or 132.9 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 373, higher than crimes against the person at 133. The IRSAD score is decile 4, below the IER decile 6, reflecting a more constrained overall advantage profile than household resources alone. Compared with inner suburbs, walking and public transport are lower, so convenience depends more on local services, parking and road access.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
0.1%
Walk / Cycle
7.0%
Work from Home
11.5%
Population Forecast
+0.65%/yr
(+76 people/yr)
EstablishedLeongatha's growth outlook is established and measured rather than high velocity. Annual growth is 0.65%, with migration labelled Balanced, so expansion is more likely to follow steady local demand than a single strong inflow. The wider area records 9.2% population change over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 7.1 percentage points, the young share is down 1.8 points and the working share is down 3.8 points. Rents have grown 28.6%, but affordability is described as Stable, moving only from 40.9% in 2011 to 40.4% in 2021. Gentrification is rated Not gentrifying at a score of 7, while early signs are also flagged at 22, so redevelopment should be monitored without assuming a major repositioning. Compared with fast-growth corridors, Leongatha's 42 development applications and balanced migration point to incremental change. For today's 5,869 residents, the key planning issue is adapting services and housing to an older trajectory, not assuming rapid population turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
+54
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +54/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
780
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
132.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Leongatha compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leongatha a good suburb to live in?
Leongatha can suit buyers seeking a regional town with 94.8% separate houses, 76.0% car-driver travel and a median age of 45. The trade-off is an older trajectory, 0.1% public transport use and a crime rate of 132.9 per 1,000, so lifestyle fit depends on driving and service needs.
What schools are in Leongatha?
Five schools serve Leongatha across primary, secondary and special education: 2 government mainstream schools, 2 Catholic schools and 1 government specialist school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, transport arrangements and year-level availability before choosing an address.
Is Leongatha safe?
Leongatha recorded 780 offences, equal to 132.9 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 373, compared with 133 crimes against the person. Those figures justify checking the exact street, lighting, parking and local incident patterns rather than treating the suburb as uniformly safe.
Is Leongatha good for property investment?
It can suit a conservative regional strategy, but investors should balance the $270 weekly rent and 8.4% vacancy rate against 23.1% renter occupancy. Rent growth of 28.6% is supportive, while 42 development applications and 0.65% annual growth suggest more measured upside than a high-growth corridor.
How is Leongatha's population changing?
Leongatha's current population is 5,869, while the wider area's 10-year population change is 9.2%. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share is up 7.1 percentage points and the young share is down 1.8 points. Annual growth is 0.65% and migration is Balanced, pointing to gradual change rather than rapid turnover.
What development is happening in Leongatha?
There were 42 development applications in the past 12 months, including an 8-lot subdivision amended to 3 lots, a restaurant use and a place-of-assembly change. That activity indicates ongoing small-scale change, but it does not by itself confirm 42 new dwellings. Buyers should check permits, timing and infrastructure effects for the exact street.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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