Lawson
Statistical Area - sa2

Lawson lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lawson's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stood at 2,872 as of August 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 133 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,739. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 2,872 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 932 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lawson's 4.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 2.4%, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as a base. Future population trends indicate a decline of 287 persons by 2041 according to these projections. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 45 to 54 age group, projected to increase by 70 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Lawson according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Lawson has averaged approximately one new dwelling approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling six homes. As of FY26, zero approvals have been recorded. Historically, between FY21 and FY25, an average of 91.2 new residents arrived per year for each dwelling constructed. This indicates significant demand exceeding supply, which typically drives price growth and increased buyer competition.

In the current financial year, $59,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Lawson's residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has notably lower building activity, with 91% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings often strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

Nationally, Lawson's activity is also below average, suggesting maturity and potential planning constraints. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Lawson may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating more favourable conditions for buyers.

Lawson has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 25thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Mona Tait Gardens & Bullecourt Retirement Village Expansion, AIS Podium Project, CIT Yurauna Building, and Onderra. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Lawson rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Lawson's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 1.2% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.3%.

As of June 2025, 2,179 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation is high at 81.3% compared to ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Lawson has a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented, comprising only 20.9% of Lawson's workforce compared to ACT's 30.4%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.3%, labour force by 1.6%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% with a decrease in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawson's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Lawson's median income among taxpayers is $66,556, with an average of $80,376. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median of $68,678 and average of $83,634. As of September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% would be approximately $75,608 (median) and $91,307 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, Lawson's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 91st percentiles. In terms of income distribution, 40.7% of residents (1,168 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, mirroring the broader area where 34.3% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 40.3% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 18.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Lawson displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Lawson's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 19.7% houses and 80.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Australian Capital Territory's 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawson was at 8.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.8% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawson was $2,000, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average, while median weekly rent was $548, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $2,000 and $430 respectively. Nationally, Lawson's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lawson features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.4% of all households, including 21.5% couples with children, 31.5% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.6%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households making up 17.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Lawson exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Lawson has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above. Specifically, 62.7% hold university qualifications, which is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 43.8%. This indicates a substantial educational advantage for Lawson. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 23.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.1%.

Vocational pathways account for 16.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 7.5% and certificates 9.1%. Educational participation is high in Lawson, with 38.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 20.1% in tertiary education, 5.6% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education. However, educational facilities appear to be located outside Lawson's immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas for their educational needs.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Lawson has 10 active public transport stops operating. These are a mix of bus stops serviced by 5 different routes. Together, these routes provide 1233 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 168 meters. On average, there are 176 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 123 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lawson's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Lawson's health outcomes data shows excellent results across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 60% (1,717 people) have private health cover, compared to 57.1% in Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. A total of 84.0% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. Lawson has a lower percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 3.0% (87 people), compared to the 15.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong and align with the overall population's health profile.

Lawson is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lawson has one of the most culturally diverse populations in Australia, with 54.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 53.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lawson, comprising 25.4% of its population. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the most represented groups are Other at 18.6%, Chinese at 17.6%, and English at 15.2%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other is substantially higher (18.6% vs 12.0%), Chinese is notably higher (17.6% vs 4.2%), and English is notably lower (15.2% vs 23.7%). Additionally, certain ethnic groups are overrepresented in Lawson compared to regional averages: Korean at 1.6% (vs 0.4%), Indian at 7.7% (vs 2.5%), and Vietnamese at 2.8% (vs 1.2%).

Lawson hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Lawson's median age is 29 years, which is notably lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and substantially lower than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (36.7%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (1.5%). This concentration of residents aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.5%. Following the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, residents in Lawson have aged by an average of 1 year, with the median age rising from 28 years to 29 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has grown from 16% to 19.1%, while those aged 45-54 increased from 6.4% to 8.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has declined from 21% to 16.1%, and those aged 0-4 have dropped from 5.8% to 4.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Lawson's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 59 people (a 596% rise) from 10 to 70. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ will account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting Lawson's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both age groups of 65-74 and 0-4 are expected to see reduced numbers.