Lyons (ACT)
Statistical Area - sa2

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

As of Aug 2025, Lyons ACT's population is approximately 3,332, marking an increase of 61 people since the 2021 Census. This rise corresponds to a 1.9% growth rate from the previously reported figure of 3,271 people. The change is inferred based on ABS estimates: 3,273 residents as of June 2024 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,474 persons per square kilometer. Lyons' population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 76.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also based on 2022 figures. Future demographic trends suggest Lyons will experience population growth below the Australian median statistical area average. By 2041, the population is projected to increase by 271 persons, representing a total rise of 6.4% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Lyons, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Lyons has seen approximately 20 new home approvals per year. Development approval data from the ABS is recorded on a financial year basis, totalling 102 approvals over the past five financial years, from FY-20 to FY-25, with no approvals yet in FY-26. On average, 0.0 new residents arrive per new home annually between FY-20 and FY-25, indicating that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average cost of developing new dwellings is $269,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lyons has 84.0% fewer approvals per person, reflecting constrained new construction that typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. This level is also below the national average, indicating an established market with potential planning limitations. New building activity comprises 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium to high-density housing, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Lyons has around 508 people per approval, suggesting a mature market. Future projections indicate Lyons is expected to grow by 212 residents by 2041.

With current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Lyons has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects that could impact the region. Notable initiatives include Trilogy Apartments, CIT Woden Campus, The Hunter, and Woden Bus Depot and Transport Interchange. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Lyons exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Lyons ACT has a highly educated workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of June 2025, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

Employment grew by an estimated 3.7% over the past year. As of June 2025, 1,886 residents were employed with a participation rate of 66.9%, below ACT's 69.6%. Key industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Lyons specialises in health care & social assistance (1.4 times the regional level), but professional & technical services are under-represented at 8.3% compared to ACT's 11.1%.

Employment opportunities may be limited locally as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7%, labour force grew by 1.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.9% with a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment. As of Sep-25, ACT employment had contracted by 0.33%, losing 1,480 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment was 4.5% with national employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lyons's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Lyons' median taxpayer income is $59,200 and average income is $73,935, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. Nationally, this is high compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. As of March 2025, estimated incomes are approximately $65,582 (median) and $81,905 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since the financial year 2022. Lyons' individual earnings stand out at the 86th percentile nationally, with weekly earnings of $1,097. The largest segment comprises 30.9% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,029 residents), aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort represents 34.3%. Lyons demonstrates affluence with 32.7% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 72nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Lyons, as per the latest Census evaluation, 51.7% of dwellings were houses and 48.3% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Lyons was 27.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented dwellings at 45.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lyons was $2,383, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,167. The median weekly rent in Lyons was recorded at $360, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's figure of $440. Nationally, Lyons' median monthly mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while median weekly rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 61.2% of all households, including 26.2% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.8%, with lone person households making up 35.1% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.4.

Lyons demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Lyons is notably higher than broader Australian benchmarks. As of 2021, 51.4% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 11.1% and certificates 11.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the 2021 census. This includes 8.2% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education. Lyons Early Childhood School provides local educational services within Lyons, with an enrollment of 99 students as of the 2021 academic year. Lyons demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1129. The area has one school focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Local school capacity is limited, with 3.0 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.7, indicating many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

The analysis of public transportation in Lyons shows that there are currently 17 active transport stops operating within the city. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 8 individual routes providing service. The collective weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 1,899.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 214 meters from the nearest transport stop. The average service frequency across all routes is 271 trips per day, which equates to roughly 111 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Lyons is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Lyons demonstrates above-average health outcomes with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population, although higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 56% (~1,882 people) of the total population has private health cover, compared to 68.1% across the Australian Capital Territory.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.1% and 7.4% of residents respectively. Around 70.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, comparable to the 70.1% across the Australian Capital Territory. The area has 18.4% (614 people) of residents aged 65 and over, requiring more attention than the broader population.

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

Lyons' cultural diversity is notable, with 36.8% of its population born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Lyons, practiced by 36.2% of residents. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Lyons compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, comprising 6.7% versus 3.3%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.2%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (17.3%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: French is overrepresented at 0.8%, Sri Lankan at 0.7%, and Polish at 1.0% compared to regional averages of 0.6%, 0.4%, and 0.8% respectively.

Lyons's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Lyons's median age is 37 years, slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligned with the national average of 38 years. The 85+ age group comprises 4.1% of Lyons' population compared to Australian Capital Territory. The 5 - 14 cohort makes up 9.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 55 to 64 age group has grown from 9.0% to 9.9%, while the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 19.0% to 16.5% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 11.0% to 9.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate that Lyons' 65 to 74 age cohort is projected to increase by 102 people (44%), growing from 234 to 337. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 53% of total population growth. In contrast, both 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.