Thinking about buying your first home in Leichhardt (2040)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Leichhardt is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Leichhardt a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Leichhardt (2040) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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11 min
15 min
38 min
29 min
17 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Leichhardt suits established dual-income households who want inner-city density without sacrificing a neighbourhood feel. The median house sits at $1,950,000, so you need genuine borrowing power or equity behind you. The selective school campus, a mean ICSEA of 1119 across local public schools, and 52 nearby childcare services make this a credible long-term family base. The 18-minute off-peak drive to the CBD and a walkability score in the 64th percentile for Sydney round out a practical daily life.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are priced out entirely. The median house is well above the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme threshold, and even the median unit at $991,800 leaves little room for stamp duty relief. The walkability score of 65 sounds reasonable but places Leichhardt behind most comparable inner-west suburbs, so car-free living is harder than the cafe count suggests. The lifestyle grade of C+ from Stickybeak's composite reflects that gap between the suburb's reputation and its actual pedestrian experience.
What to verify before you bid
- The "safe insufficient" Stickybeak safety grade warrants a specific check. Request council flood mapping for your target street, as the Inner West has known localised inundation zones not captured in the postcode-level bushfire figure of 0.0%. - With 40% renters and 29% of dwellings being flats, strata buildings vary widely. Pull the owners corporation records and check the capital works fund balance before committing to any unit purchase. - Confirm school enrolment zones directly with NSW Education, as the selective Leichhardt Campus has a separate application process and proximity does not guarantee a place.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Leichhardt?
BOCSAR · LEICHHARDT 2040
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K5,15912 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−36%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Inner West
Within LGA: Inner West
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT63%314 reports
ASSAULT20%99 reports
MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY17%87 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED54%
NON-DOMESTIC46%
Across 96 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Leichhardt
32
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
Reading may be delayed · 00:00 AEST
Rozelle station · 1.4 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 30 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Rozelle station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 46 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$720per week
Sep 2025 · 46 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Annandale2038
$800▲$80
1.1 km away
Haberfield2045
$1,100▲$380
1.8 km away
Rozelle2039
$885▲$165
1.9 km away
Forest Lodge2037
$1,100▲$380
2.6 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2040
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2040. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Leichhardt with another suburb
Also in Inner West
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Inner West postcodes, or explore the full Inner West suburb index.
Leichhardt is the primary suburb with postcode 2040 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Leichhardt is the main locality.
Which local government area is Leichhardt in?
Leichhardt (2040) is located in the Inner West local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Leichhardt?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Leichhardt (2040) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Leichhardt flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Leichhardt. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Leichhardt?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Leichhardt (2040), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Leichhardt (2040) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Leichhardt (2040). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Leichhardt changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Leichhardt (2040) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
