Lawson

Population growth drivers in Lawson are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lawson's population is around 2,918 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 179 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,739 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,872 in June 2024 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 947 persons per square kilometer. Lawson's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (2.4%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. 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, also using 2022 as a base year. Future population trends indicate a decline of 287 persons by 2041 according to these projections. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, with 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. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. On average, 91.2 new residents per year arrive for each dwelling constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating significant demand exceeding new supply. This typically results in price growth and increased buyer competition.

New properties are constructed at an average value of $95,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In this financial year, $59,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has significantly less development activity, 91.0% below the regional average per person.

This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. The area's development activity is also under the national average, suggesting its established nature and potential planning limitations. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Lawson may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Lawson has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure 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, Onderra, and Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct. The following 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Lawson performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Lawson has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9%.

As of September 2025, 2,156 residents are employed at a rate of 2.5% below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%, and workforce participation is high at 81.3% compared to ACT's 69.6%. Key industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Lawson has a strong specialization in accommodation & food services with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety shows lower representation at 20.9% versus the regional average of 30.4%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.9% while labour force increased by 0.9%, with unemployment remaining essentially unchanged. In comparison, ACT saw employment grow by 1.4%, labour force expand by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The Lawson SA2 had one of Australia's highest income levels according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2022. Its median taxpayer income was $66,556 and average income stood at $80,376. These figures compared with the Australian Capital Territory's $68,678 (median) and $83,634 (average). By September 2025, estimated incomes were approximately $75,608 (median) and $91,307 (average), based on a 13.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. Census data showed Lawson's household, family, and personal incomes ranked highly nationally, between the 90th and 90th percentiles. The earnings profile indicated that 40.7% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, consistent with broader regional trends at 34.3%. The area's affluence was evident with 40.3% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail services. High housing costs consumed 18.6% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. Lawson's SEIFA income ranking placed 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. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 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 was $2,000, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average, while the median weekly rent was $548, compared to the territory's $430. 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 account for the remaining 37.6%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households comprising 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's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 62.7% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA3 area's 43.8%. The majority of these qualifications are bachelor degrees (35.5%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational pathways account for 16.6%, with advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 9.1%.

Educational participation is high, 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.

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

Lawson has ten active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that combined provide 1,233 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 168 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 176 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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

Health outcomes data shows exceptional results across Lawson, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is approximately 60% of the total population (1744 people), compared to 57.1% across Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 84.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. Lawson has 3.0% of residents aged 65 and over (88 people), which is lower than the 15.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general 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 a culturally diverse population, with 54.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 53.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Lawson, comprising 25.4% of its population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.0%.

In ancestry, Other (18.6%), Chinese (17.6%), and English (15.2%) are the top three groups in Lawson. Notably, Indian (7.7%), Korean (1.6%), and Vietnamese (2.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 2.5%, 0.4%, and 1.2% respectively.

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

Lawson's median age in 2021 was 29 years, which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the ACT, Lawson had a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (36.7%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (1.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Following the 2021 Census, Lawson's residents had aged by an average of 1.0 years, with the median age rising from 28 to 29 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 increased from 16.0% to 19.1%, while those aged 45-54 rose from 6.4% to 8.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 decreased from 21.0% to 16.1%, and those aged 0-4 dropped from 5.8% to 4.6%. Demographic projections suggest that Lawson's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing from 10 to 70 people (a rise of 585%). Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 53% of total population growth, reflecting Lawson's aging demographic trend. However, both the 65-74 age group and the 0-4 age group are projected to decrease in numbers.