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 of August 2025, is approximately 2872 people. This figure represents an increase of 133 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2739 people. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2872 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This translates to a density ratio of 932 persons per square kilometer, comparable with averages observed across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lawson's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 census surpassed the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.4%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth accounted for approximately 65.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs 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 year. Future population trends indicate an overall decline in Lawson's population, with a projected reduction of 287 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 45 to 54 age group, which is 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 averaged approximately 87 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 438 dwellings approved over the past five financial years from FY20 to FY25, including zero approvals so far in FY26. On average, 91.2 new residents arrived per dwelling constructed annually between FY20 and FY25, indicating significant demand exceeding supply, which often leads to price growth and increased buyer competition. This financial year has seen $59,000 in commercial development approvals recorded, reflecting Lawson's residential nature.

Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson records significantly lower building activity, 89% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. Building activity is also below national averages, suggesting potential planning constraints.

Stable or declining population forecasts may reduce housing pressure in Lawson, creating favorable conditions for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include AIS Podium Project (Australian Institute of Sport Redevelopment), CIT Yurauna Building, Onderra, and Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Lawson has an educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.2% in the past year, showing a growth of 1.3%.

As of June 2025, Lawson had 2,179 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation was higher at 81.3% compared to ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors included public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Accommodation & food services had notably high employment levels, at 1.5 times the regional average.

Conversely, public administration & safety was under-represented with only 20.9% of Lawson's workforce compared to ACT's 30.4%. Employment opportunities locally might be limited as suggested by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.3%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% with a fall in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data up to Sep-25 showed ACT's employment contracted by 0.33% (losing 1,480 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment rate was 4.5%, and national employment growth was 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase 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 this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Lawson's median income among taxpayers was $66,556 in financial year 2022. The average income was $80,376. These figures are high nationally, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median of $68,678 and average of $83,634. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income would be approximately $73,731 and the average $89,041, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022. In Lawson, household, family and personal incomes ranked highly nationally in 2021 Census figures, between the 90th and 91st percentiles. The income distribution showed that 40.7% of residents (1,168 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to the broader area where 34.3% occupied this bracket. Economic strength was evident with 40.3% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consumed 18.6% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. The area'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 (semi-detached, apartments, '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. The median weekly rent was $548, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $2,000 and $430 respectively. Nationally, Lawson's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 account for 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 constitute 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, 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 educational attainment, with 62.7% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses both the national average of 30.4% and the SA3 area's average of 43.8%. The most common university qualifications in Lawson 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. However, educational facilities appear to be located outside Lawson's immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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 serving buses. Five different routes operate through these stops, together offering 1,233 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is deemed excellent, with residents living an average of 168 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 176 bus trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 123 weekly trips at each 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 show exceptional results across all age groups, with very low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 60% (1,717 people) have private health cover, compared to 57.1% in the Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 84.0% report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than the 68.1% across the Australian Capital Territory. Lawson has 3.0% (87 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 15.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Senior health outcomes align with those of the general population.

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 overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (18.6%), Chinese (17.6%), and English (15.2%). Korean (1.6%) and Indian (7.7%) are notably overrepresented, while Vietnamese (2.8%) is also higher than the regional average.

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

Lawson's median age is 29 years, which is below the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and significantly under Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has 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 is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, Lawson's residents 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 increased from 16% 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% 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 596% rise). Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 51% of total population growth, reflecting Lawson's aging demographic trend. Conversely, both the 65-74 age group and the 0-4 age group are projected to decrease in numbers.