All Countries
Leeston, New Zealand
Canterbury · New Zealand
Leeston is a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand with a population of 2,490. Elevation: 59 ft (18 m). Average temperature: 53°F (12°C).
Data updated June 2026
Discover Leeston, New Zealand
Explore over 40 sections covering people, economy, housing, health, crime, climate, community, costs, trends, schools, colleges, hospitals, treatment centers, industries, museums, libraries, breweries, farmers markets, grocery stores, pharmacies, campgrounds, parks, trails, stadiums, ski resorts, daycare centers, nursing homes, churches, fire stations, cell towers, bridges, power plants, EV stations, prisons, radio stations, airports, police stations, post offices, Amtrak stations, superfund sites, UNESCO sites, and more.
Use the tabs and dropdown menus below to navigate every data point we track for this city.
About Leeston
Leeston is a town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 30 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora and the mouth of the Rakaia River. The town is home to a growing number of services which have increased and diversified along with the population. Leeston has a supermarket, schools, churches, hospital, gym, cafes, restaurants, medical centre, pharmacy and post office. The Selwyn District Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston.
People
Economy
BHousing
CClimate
| Population | 2,490 |
| Population Density | 3,411 / sq mi |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Coordinates | -43.7667°, 172.3000° |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
| Country | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| State / Province | Canterbury |
| Average Temperature | 53°F (12°C) |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Annual Precipitation | 25.7 inches (652 mm) |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 inches (0 cm) |
| Median Household Income | $26,400 |
| Median Age | 39.9 years |
About Leeston
Leeston is a small town in New Zealand (Canterbury) with a population of 2,490. The city sits at an elevation of 59 feet (18 meters) above sea level. The average annual temperature is 53°F (12°C). Temperatures range from 62°F in January to 43°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 25.7 inches. The timezone is Pacific/Auckland.
Population
Language Spoken at Home
Social Characteristics
Leeston vs New Zealand Average
Income: Leeston vs New Zealand
Commute Mode
Income
| Median HH Income | $26,400 |
| 65% below New Zealand avg | |
| Per Capita Income | $26,400 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $508 |
Employment & Poverty
| Unemployment | 1.9% |
| 47% below New Zealand avg | |
| Establishments (County) | 229 |
Business (County)
Tax & Cost of Living
Commute & Transportation
Walkability
Home Value Sources
Ownership Split
Home Values
| Census Median | $213,200 |
| 24% below New Zealand avg |
Real Estate Market (Redfin)
Rental Costs
| Census Median Rent | $1,066 |
| 8% below New Zealand avg |
Ownership & Property
| Homeownership | 81.7% |
| Owner-Occupied | 81.7% |
| Renter-Occupied | 18.3% |
| Housing Units | 996 |
Property Tax
Temperature
| Annual Average | 53.0°F |
| 2% below New Zealand avg | |
| January Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| July Average | 43°F (6°C) |
| Sunny Days | 289 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Area | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²) |
| Population Density | 3,411/sq mi |
| Coordinates | -43.7667°N, 172.3000°W |
| Timezone | Pacific/Auckland |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Tsunami History
6 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 6.5 m (21 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 2016 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Earthquake | 6.5 m | 2 | 130 km |
| 1895 | PIEGON BAY | Meteorological | 5.0 m | - | 49 km |
| 1881 | PIGEON BAY (BANKS PENINSULA) | Earthquake | 3.0 m | - | 49 km |
| 1856 | S CANTERBURY PROVINCE, SOUTH ISLAND | Unknown | 1.0 m | - | 35 km |
| 1922 | SE. NEW ZEALAND | Earthquake | 0.4 m | - | 102 km |
| 1978 | OFF EAST COAST OF SOUTH ISLAND | Meteorological | - | - | 94 km |
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 62°F (17°C) | 2.0 in | Warmest |
| February | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 in | |
| March | 59°F (15°C) | 2.2 in | |
| April | 54°F (12°C) | 2.2 in | |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 2.3 in | |
| June | 44°F (7°C) | 2.1 in | |
| July | 43°F (6°C) | 2.3 in | Coldest |
| August | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 in | Wettest |
| September | 49°F (10°C) | 1.8 in | Driest |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.3 in | |
| November | 56°F (14°C) | 2.0 in | |
| December | 60°F (16°C) | 1.9 in |
Leeston has a seasonal temperature swing of 20°F / from 43°F in July to 62°F in January. Total annual precipitation is 25.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.6") and September the driest (1.8").
Schools in Leeston
2 public schools (NCES 2022-23 data).
| School | Level | Enrollment | Teachers | Student/Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeston School | - | - | - | - |
| Ellesmere College | - | - | - | - |
Radio Stations near Leeston
9 stations within ~55 km.
| Station | Genre | Quality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDU 98.5FM | - | MP3 128 kbps | |
| 3ABN Christian Radio | bible teaching, christian | AAC+ 56 kbps | |
| Anthemz | - | AAC 130 kbps | |
| Akaroa World Radio | easy listening | AAC | |
| XS80s | 1980's, 1980s | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Dave FM | 70s, 80s | MP3 128 kbps | |
| Power Hit FM 87.8 - Christchurch, NZ | pop music, top 40 | AAC+ 64 kbps | |
| 8K.NZ | eclectic, independent | MP3 192 kbps | |
| RDU | alternative | MP3 128 kbps |
Museums in Leeston
| Name | Type | Address | Phone | Annual Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Museum | ||||
| Pioneer Hall |
Libraries in Leeston
| Name | Address | Staff | Annual Visits | Circulation | Collection | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornby Centre | 0.0 | |||||
| Ivey Hall | 0.0 | |||||
| Leeston Selwyn District Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Lincoln Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Matatiki: Hornby Centre | 0.0 | |||||
| Selwyn Huts community library | 0.0 | |||||
| Tai Tapu Library | 0.0 | |||||
| Te Ara Atea | 0.0 | |||||
| Te Ara Atea (Rolleston Library) | 0.0 |
Farmers Markets in Leeston
| Name | Address | Season | Hours | Organic | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Saturday Market | |||||
| Riccarton Rotary Market |
Cafes in Leeston
1 cafes within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Gas Stations in Leeston
2 gas stations within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Banks in Leeston
1 banks within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Golf Courses in Leeston
1 golf courses within city radius - OpenStreetMap data
Stadiums & Teams in Leeston
| Team | League | Division |
|---|---|---|
Ski Resorts Near Leeston
6 ski resorts within range.
| Resort | Slopes (km) | Lifts | Peak (m) | Price | Season | Night | Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porters Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Mount Olympus Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Mount Cheeseman Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Mt Cheeseman Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Broken River Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
| Craigieburn Valley Ski Area | 0.0 | - | - | $0 | - | - | - |
Airports Near Leeston
12 airports within the area.
| Airport | IATA | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Christchurch International Airport | CHC | Large Airport |
| Ashburton Airport | ASG | Small Airport |
| Dunsandel | - | Small Airport |
| Fernside Fields Airpark | - | Small Airport |
| Forest Field Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Kings (Ladbrooks) | - | Small Airport |
| Mount Hutt Station Airstrip | - | Small Airport |
| Rangiora Airfield | - | Small Airport |
| Springfield Airport | - | Small Airport |
| Taitapu Ag strip | - | Small Airport |
| West Melton Aerodrome | - | Small Airport |
| Worthy Lodge airstrip (Ladbrooks) | - | Small Airport |
Treatment Centers in Leeston
1 treatment centers.
| Center | Type | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Maui Clinic |
Churches & Religious Organizations in Leeston
4 religious organizations (IRS tax-exempt data).
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ellesmere Cooperating Parish | |
| Leeston New Life Centre | |
| St David's Methodist Church - Leeston | |
| St John the Evangelist Parish - Leeston |
Quick Facts
🇳🇿 About New Zealand
Public Holidays in New Zealand
23 public holidays this year
Download Full City Report
Get a comprehensive, print-ready PDF with all data for Leeston.
Get ReportFrequently Asked Questions About Leeston
What is the population of Leeston?
Leeston has a population of 2,490 residents and is located in New Zealand. The population density is 3,411 people per square mile, spread across 0.7 square miles. The median age of residents is 39.9 years.
Is Leeston expensive to live in?
The median household income is $26,400, 65% below the national average of $75,149. The median home value is $213,200 (24% below the U.S. median). Renters pay a median of $1,066 per month. The home price-to-income ratio is 8.1x, which means housing is a stretch relative to local earnings.
What is the weather like in Leeston?
Leeston has a four-season climate with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winter temperatures average 62°F in January, while summers reach an average of 43°F in July. The area receives 289 sunny days per year, well above the national average of 205. Annual rainfall totals 25.7 inches.
How is the job market in Leeston?
The job market in Leeston is very strong, with unemployment at just 1.9% / well below the national rate of 3.6%. The average weekly wage is $508. There are 229 business establishments in the area.
How much does housing cost in Leeston?
The median home value in Leeston is $213,200. For renters, the median monthly rent is $1,066. The homeownership rate is 81.7%.