Leeston

NZDep 3
Pop 2,271Median age 39Selwyn District

Leeston is a small suburb in Canterbury with a population of 2,271 and a median age of 39. Median personal income is $44K per year. The main ethnic groups are European, Māori, Asian.

Median weekly rent in Leeston is $590 (590 houses, 0 units). This represents approximately 70% of median weekly personal income.

Livability indicators for Leeston: NZDep decile 3 (low deprivation (affluent)); 2 schools with avg EQI 456; 1 hospital nearby.

In 2026, Leeston recorded 1 building approval (1 house, 0 units), down 85.7% year-on-year.

INVESTMENT SIGNALS
Rent Affordability70% Stretched
School QualityEQI 456 Average
DeprivationDecile 3 Low
Development-86% Slowing
RENTAL MARKET
Median Rent /wk$590
House Rent /wk$590
Rent-to-Income69.7%
Lodgements18
1/10/2025
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population2,271
Median Age39
Household Size
Personal Income$44K/yr
Household Income
ETHNICITY
European83.7%
Māori10.8%
Asian3.2%
Pacific Peoples1.5%
MELAA0.9%
TOP INDUSTRIES
Construction168
Manufacturing129
Wholesale Trade102
SCHOOLS (2)
Avg EQI456
Total Students878
State2
Ellesmere CollegeSecondary (Year 7-15) · State · EQI 462 · 584 students
Leeston SchoolContributing · State · EQI 451 · 294 students
LIVABILITY (NZDep 2023)
Deprivation Decile3/10
NZDep Score949
Low deprivation — among the least deprived areas in NZ.
HOSPITALS (1)
Ellesmere HospitalPublic Hospital
DEVELOPMENT
Approvals (2026)1
  Houses1
YoY Change-85.7%
Data: Stats NZ Census 2023 · MBIE · MoE · NZDep2023