St Leonards
Detached housing defines St Leonards more than most Launceston fringe suburbs: 94.0% of dwellings are separate houses and only 3.0% are apartments. The suburb's 2,351 residents sit across 44.24 sq km, so density is far below inner Launceston or Newstead. Household income sits at the 51.3rd percentile nationally, while SEIFA IRSAD ranks in decile 1, pointing to modest socio-economic resources despite steady employment and high home purchase activity.
Local council: Launceston
Population
2,351
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,572/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are mostly choosing space: 94.0% separate houses, 51.6% 3-bedroom homes and 28.3% with 4 or more bedrooms make family-sized stock the default. Mortgage repayments of $1,300 a month absorb 19.1% of household income, lower than common stress thresholds, because household income is $1,572 a week. The trade-off is car dependence, with 88.7% driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mostly choosing space: 94.0% separate houses, 51.6% 3-bedroom homes and 28.3% with 4 or more bedrooms make family-sized stock the default. Mortgage repayments of $1,300 a month absorb 19.1% of household income, lower than common stress thresholds, because household income is $1,572 a week. The trade-off is car dependence, with 88.7% driving to work and only 0.8% using public transport.
For Investors
Investor appeal is income-led rather than density-led. Renters account for 21.6% of tenure and the median rent is $290 a week, while the 5.0% vacancy rate sits higher than a tight rental market. Tenant depth may be narrower because 31.8% own outright and 45.2% are mortgaged owner-occupiers. Overseas migration is the forecast driver and rent growth is 15.4%, supporting demand beyond the local buyer pool.
Demographics
St Leonards is younger than the national benchmark, with a median age of 38, 2.0 years below the national figure. Overseas-born residents are 8.8%, 12.8 points below national, and university attainment is 23.9%, 6.2 points lower. English ancestry leads with 1,100 people, followed by Scottish 251 and Irish 211, so the suburb reads more Anglo-leaning because overseas migration has historically been a smaller influence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.0%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing tenure is owner-heavy compared with many rental markets: 31.8% own outright, 45.2% have a mortgage and 21.6% rent. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 94.0% separate houses vs 2.5% semi-detached and 3.0% apartments, so downsizer and unit choice is thin. Housing costs look manageable because rent uses 18.4% of income and mortgages use 19.1%, both below the local stress flags recorded for renters and borrowers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$290
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$767
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.3%
Couples with children
38.8%
Couples, no children
20.2%
Single parent
665
Total families
Economy & Employment
The employment base is practical and service-oriented. Healthcare employs 198 people, or 26.4%, above every other industry, followed by Construction at 111 and Education at 93. Occupations are split between Professionals 203 and Trades 200, with Clerical/Admin 150 close behind. Unemployment is 4.3% and participation is 65.4%. SEIFA is lower than income alone suggests: IEO decile 1, IER decile 2, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 1, reflecting a workforce mix weighted to service, trade and care roles.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
1,222
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.5%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
65.4%
Employed
1,170
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.9%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
8.8%
Dwellings
853
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-based compared with inner suburbs: 88.7% drive to work, only 0.8% use public transport and 1.9% walk or cycle. Working from home is 6.1%, so most routines still rely on commuting. The 44.24 sq km footprint and 53.1 people per sq km give room for larger blocks, but also make services less walkable. Safety needs street-by-street checking because the strongest local signal is socio-economic, with IRSAD in lower decile 1.
Drive
88.7%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
6.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth is moderate rather than speculative. The forecast trend is 1.96% a year, driven primarily by Overseas migration, while the shift trajectory is Mixed. Population change over 10 years is 28.5%, but affordability improved from 43.6 in 2011 to 37.3 in 2021, which helps explain ongoing buyer demand despite lower IRSAD decile 1 conditions. Gentrification is still at Early signs, with a score of 39 rather than an advanced stage.
Population trend: Launceston council area
St Leonards sits in the Launceston council area. These are the council area's residents, not St Leonards's.
Residents 2025
71,341
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How St Leonards compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Leonards a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you want space and can live with car dependence. St Leonards has 94.0% separate houses, a median age of 38 and mortgage costs at 19.1% of income, but public transport commuting is only 0.8%, well below car commuting at 88.7%.
What is the median house price in St Leonards?
Check recent settled sales for the current median house price, because local cost conditions move with listings. The standing affordability markers are $1,300 median monthly mortgage repayments and $290 median weekly rent, with mortgage costs at 19.1% of income.
What schools are in St Leonards?
School selection in St Leonards should be checked by address, sector and current catchment before relying on a purchase decision. The suburb has 665 families, including 268 couples with children, so family buyers commonly compare nearby options by year level.
Is St Leonards safe?
St Leonards should be assessed street by street rather than from a single headline. IRSAD sits in lower decile 1, while 88.7% of workers drive, so lighting, road exposure and inspection timing matter more than suburb averages.
Is St Leonards good for property investment?
St Leonards can suit investors seeking affordable rental exposure rather than high-density turnover. Renters are 21.6%, median rent is $290 a week and vacancy is 5.0%, higher than a tight market. Forecast rent growth is 15.4%, but owner-occupiers dominate.
How is St Leonards's population changing?
The growth trajectory is positive but mixed: the forecast trend is 1.96% a year, the primary driver is Overseas migration, and 10-year population change is 28.5%. Gentrification remains Early signs with score 39, so change is underway but not advanced.
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).
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