Lyneham
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Lyneham's population is around 6,505 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 802 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,703 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,875 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 449 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,187 persons per square kilometer. Lyneham's growth rate of 14.1% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average (5.7%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a significant growth leader in the area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, using 2022 as a base, are adopted. Future population trends forecast a significant increase for Lyneham, expected to expand by 2,513 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting an increase of 28.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lyneham among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lyneham has averaged approximately 49 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, showing 245 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. The average population increase per dwelling built over these years was around 0.3 people annually. This pace of new supply has kept up with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $310,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals valued at $7.8 million have been recorded in the current financial year, suggesting the area's residential character. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lyneham shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 49.0% more per person over the past five years. This balances buyer choice while supporting current property values. This activity is well above the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction comprises approximately 2.0% detached houses and 98.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently around 27.0% houses.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, potentially due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. Lyneham's population growth characteristics suggest it is a growth area, with approximately 109 people per dwelling approval. Looking ahead, Lyneham is projected to grow by around 1,883 residents through to the year 2041. Development appears to be keeping reasonable pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.

Lyneham has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 27 projects likely affecting the area. Key projects include Fox Place Multi-Unit Development, Bethany Lyneham, Northbourne Village - De Burgh, and Yowani Grounds Estate Development. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The employment environment in Lyneham shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Lyneham has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 3.2%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.7%. As of June 2025, 3,669 residents are employed with an unemployment rate of 2.8% and workforce participation similar to ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 3.8% versus the regional average of 6.8%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.7% while labour force grew by 1.6%, reducing unemployment by 1.0 percentage points. In contrast, ACT had employment growth of 1.9% and labour force growth of 1.6%, with a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment. As of Sep-25, ACT employment contracted by 0.33% (losing 1,480 jobs) with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lyneham's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5%% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Income data from AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO figures for financial year 2022 shows median income in Lyneham at $67,498 and average income at $83,440. This compares to Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. Assuming a 10.78% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $74,774 (median) and $92,435 (average). According to 2021 Census figures, individual earnings in Lyneham reach the 91st percentile nationally at $1,200 weekly. Income brackets indicate that 37.3% of locals (2,426 people) earn between $1,500 and 2,999 weekly, aligning with the region where this cohort also represents 34.3%. Notably, 30.3% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 73rd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Lyneham, as per the latest Census, 27.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 73.0% being semi-detached, apartments, and other types of dwellings. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lyneham was 23.5%, similar to the ACT's rate, with mortgaged dwellings at 26.8% and rented ones at 49.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lyneham was $1,800, lower than the ACT average of $2,080, and also below the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Lyneham was $425, higher than the ACT's figure of $476 and significantly above the national average of $375.

Lyneham features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 52.5% of all households, consisting of 17.0% couples with children, 27.1% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 47.5%, with lone person households at 37.8% and group households comprising 9.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.2.

Lyneham shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Lyneham is notably high with 60.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% regionally as of the latest data point in 20XX. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.7%) and graduate diplomas (6.1%). Vocational pathways account for 16.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 7.2% and certificates at 9.1%. Educational participation is high, with 29.5% currently enrolled in formal education, including 13.4% in tertiary, 5.7% in primary, and 4.9% in secondary education as of the latest figures from 20XX.

Lyneham's schools have a combined enrollment of 2,712 students with an ICSEA score of 1139, indicating significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement. The area has one primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school, functioning as an education hub with 42.8 school places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 15.4, attracting students from surrounding communities as of data from 20XX.

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

Lyneham has 46 active public transport stops, served by a mix of light rail and bus routes. These stops are serviced by 17 individual routes, providing a total of 2,257 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 164 meters.

Across all routes, there are an average of 322 trips per day, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Lyneham is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Lyneham faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across age cohorts, particularly among older residents. Approximately 61% of Lyneham's total population (3987 people) have private health cover, compared to 65.3% in the Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues impact 11.4% of residents, while asthma affects 7.9%.

A total of 67.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.8% across the Australian Capital Territory. Lyneham has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.3% (992 people), compared to 11.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors require additional attention due to specific challenges faced by this age group.

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

Lyneham's cultural diversity is notable, with 34.7% of its population born overseas and 28.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lyneham, accounting for 30.4% of residents. However, Buddhism is more prevalent here compared to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), with 5.1% of Lyneham's population identifying as Buddhist versus ACT's 3.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 23.4%, Australian at 19.7%, and Other at 13.6%. Some ethnicities have higher representation in Lyneham than regionally, notably Welsh at 0.8% (ACT regional average is 0.7%), Serbian at 0.6% (ACT regional average is 0.3%) and Russian at 0.5% (ACT regional average is 0.4%).

Lyneham's population is younger than the national pattern

Lyneham's median age is 34 years, comparable to the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lyneham has a higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds at 26.2%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 7.3%. This 25-34 age group concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 24.0% to 26.2%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 14.5% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group has decreased from 13.7% to 11.7%. Demographic modeling indicates that Lyneham's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 35 to 44 cohort projected to grow by 33%, adding 353 residents to reach a total of 1,413.