St Leonards
A median age of 56 places St Leonards 16 years above the national figure, making it one of Victoria's most pronounced retiree-dominated coastal settlements. The 44.8% vacancy rate tells the other half of the story: a large share of dwellings sit empty for most of the year, pointing to holiday home ownership rather than a permanent residential base. Household income sits in the 23.7th percentile nationally, below average, yet 50.1% of residents own their home outright, the highest tenure class here. On the Bellarine Peninsula, 92.5% of dwellings are separate houses, demand for which drove the median to $692,500 by mid-2024, up 97.9% from $350,000 in 2013.
Population
3,542
Median Age
56.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,183/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$692K
Apr-Jun 2024
At $692,500 the median house price reflects a coastal lifestyle premium relative to comparable regional Victoria towns, though it sits well below the Melbourne metro median. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.5%, with semi-detached at 7.0% and apartments a negligible 0.5%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.8% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes reach 36.6%, a higher proportion than most suburban markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.3%, which exceeds the 30% stress threshold, even at a household income in the 23.7th percentile. Buyers should note the 44.8% vacancy rate signals a large holiday component, so genuine owner-occupier competition may be lower than raw price data suggests.
For Buyers
At $692,500 the median house price reflects a coastal lifestyle premium relative to comparable regional Victoria towns, though it sits well below the Melbourne metro median. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.5%, with semi-detached at 7.0% and apartments a negligible 0.5%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.8% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes reach 36.6%, a higher proportion than most suburban markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.3%, which exceeds the 30% stress threshold, even at a household income in the 23.7th percentile. Buyers should note the 44.8% vacancy rate signals a large holiday component, so genuine owner-occupier competition may be lower than raw price data suggests.
For Investors
The rental market is thin relative to the suburb's size: only 24.4% of dwellings are rented and the vacancy rate is 44.8%, more than twice what most investors would consider comfortable. Weekly rent of $350 against a $692,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.6%, low for a regional market. Development activity is modest at 12 applications in 12 months, with subdivision activity rather than dense infill. The price track from $350,000 in 2013 to $692,500 in 2024, a CAGR of 5.0% over 14 years, shows steady capital growth supported by coastal demand. The aging resident base and low participation rate of 42.1% limit rental income prospects, making St Leonards more suited to capital growth or holiday letting strategies than standard residential investment.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+85.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in St Leonards iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Leonards Primary School
Prep-6 · 173 students
Demographics
St Leonards carries a distinctly older and Anglo-heritage profile. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national average, and the most common ancestry groups are English (1,411), Irish (463) and Scottish (417), consistent with the long-established Anglo-Celtic coastal settlement pattern. Overseas-born residents account for 18.5% of the population, 3.1 points below national. University qualifications reach 25.4%, which is 4.7 points below the national figure, though professional and managerial occupations still lead the local workforce. Average household size is 2.1, compared to the national average of 2.5, reflecting the large proportion of retired couples: 49.7% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.5%
Houses
7.0%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in St Leonards skews heavily toward outright ownership: 50.1% own without a mortgage, far higher than the national average, consistent with a retiree population that has paid down debt. Mortgage holders account for 25.6% and renters 24.4%. The 92.5% separate house rate leaves almost no apartment stock. From a low of $350,000 in 2013, the median price reached $692,500 by April-June 2024, an increase of 97.9% over 14 years. More recently, prices eased from $750,000 in late 2023 to $692,500 by mid-2024. The 44.8% vacancy rate is a structural feature, reflecting holiday home holdings that suppress year-round occupancy across much of the suburb's 29.24 square kilometre area.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,654
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$629
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
44.8%
Unoccupied
1,266
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.7%
Couples, no children
2,624
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy reflects the suburb's retiree profile: participation rate of 42.1% is low because 1,525 residents are not in the labour force, a proportion typical of high-retirement-age areas. Healthcare leads industries at 18.8%, followed by Construction at 13.6% and Education at 12.4%, occupational patterns consistent with service employment rather than knowledge-economy work. Unemployment stands at 5.6%. Weekly household income of $1,183 places the suburb in the 23.7th percentile nationally, below average, yet the high outright ownership rate of 50.1% suggests residents carry little debt. By occupation, Professionals (250) lead, with Clerical/Admin (187) and Managers (175) also prominent, a mismatch with income that likely reflects part-time and seasonal work patterns common in coastal communities.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.4%
Part-time
36.0%
Participation
42.1%
Employed
1,251
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.4%
Postgraduate
6.7%
Born Overseas
18.5%
Dwellings
1,553
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in St Leonards: 91.5% of residents drive to work, and only 1.3% use public transport, compared to state averages where PT use is substantially higher. The 29.24 square kilometre area with no recorded schools in the suburb boundary means families must travel to neighbouring towns for schooling. Crime is recorded at 176 incidents, giving a rate of 49.7 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences account for 93 of those incidents. Rent-to-income at 29.6% is just under the 30% stress threshold, and 7.9% of residents need daily assistance, above the typical community average, consistent with the older population of median age 56. Volunteering reaches 14.8%, reflecting strong community participation among the retired demographic.
Drive
91.5%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
176
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
49.7
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 St Leonards compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Leonards a good suburb to live in?
St Leonards suits retirees and coastal lifestyle seekers. Median age is 56, which is 16 years above the national average, and 50.1% of residents own their home outright. The 44.8% vacancy rate and 91.5% car dependency mean the suburb lacks urban services but offers a quiet coastal setting with a median house price of $692,500.
What is the median house price in St Leonards?
The median house price is $692,500 based on April-June 2024 sales data. It has risen 97.9% from $350,000 in 2013, a CAGR of 5.0% over 14 years. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,654, and weekly rent is $350.
What schools are in St Leonards?
No schools are recorded within the St Leonards suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb spans 29.24 square kilometres on the Bellarine Peninsula and families rely on schools in nearby towns. University qualifications among residents stand at 25.4%, which is 4.7 points below the national figure.
Is St Leonards safe?
St Leonards recorded 176 crimes in the most recent period, a rate of 49.7 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences are the most common category at 93 incidents, followed by crimes against the person at 38. As a coastal area with high holiday-home vacancy, property crime rates can reflect opportunistic incidents in unoccupied dwellings.
Is St Leonards good for property investment?
The price record is positive: 97.9% growth from $350,000 in 2013 to $692,500 in 2024, a CAGR of 5.0%. However, the 44.8% vacancy rate and only 24.4% of dwellings rented mean rental income is limited, with an implied gross yield near 2.6%. The market favours capital growth or holiday letting over standard residential rental.
How is St Leonards's population changing?
St Leonards has a population of 3,542 at a density of 121 people per square kilometre across 29.24 square kilometres. The median age of 56 is 16 years above the national average, indicating an aging trajectory. The turnover rate shows 35.6% of residents changed address in the five years prior to the census, pointing to continued sea-change migration into the area.
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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