Lyons (ACT)

Population growth drivers in Lyons are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Lyons's population is around 3,312 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 41 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,271 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,310 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,465 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 81.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 272 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 8.2% in total over the 16 years.

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 9 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 46 homes. In FY26 so far, 9 approvals have been recorded. The average number of new residents arriving per new home in Lyons over the past five financial years (FY21 to FY25) is around 0.

This indicates that supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more buyer choices and supporting potential population growth beyond projections. The average construction value of new dwellings in Lyons is $229,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lyons has significantly lower construction levels, at 83.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and higher values for established dwellings. This trend is also evident when compared nationally, reflecting a mature market and possible development constraints. New development in Lyons consists of an equal split between detached and attached dwellings (50.0% each).

This balance favours compact living, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 508 people per approval, Lyons indicates a stable and mature market. Future projections estimate that Lyons will add approximately 270 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Construction is maintaining a steady pace with projected growth, although buyers may face increasing competition as population numbers rise.

Lyons has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that may impact the area. Key projects include Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), The Hunter, and CIT Woden Campus. Below is a list detailing those likely to be 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.

Lyons has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Lyons has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.1% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.0%.

As of December 2025, 1,845 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Lyons was similar to that of the Australian Capital Territory, at 70.5%. According to Census responses, a low 10.8% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment among residents was concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Lyons had a particular employment specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services had limited presence, with only 8.3% of employment compared to the regional average of 11.1%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between the Census working population and resident population counts. Over the year to December 2025, employment in Lyons increased by 1.0%, while labour force grew by 1.1%, causing a slight rise in unemployment rate of 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment growth of 0.9%, labour force expansion of 1.2%, and an unemployment increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Lyons. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Lyons' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

The median taxpayer income in Lyons SA2 was $62,799 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The average income was $76,205. These figures are higher than the national averages of $72,206 median and $85,981 average in Australian Capital Territory. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $69,355 median and $84,161 average. According to Census 2021 income data, individual earnings at the 85th percentile nationally were $1,097 weekly. Distribution data showed that 30.9% of Lyons SA2's population (1,023 individuals) had incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999 per week. Nationally, 34.3% fell within the same income range. A substantial proportion of high earners (32.7%) in Lyons SA2 had incomes above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong economic capacity. High housing costs consumed 15.2% of income, but disposable income remained at the 71st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Lyons displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Lyons, as per the latest Census evaluation, 51.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 48.3% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lyons stood at 27.5%, mirroring the Australian Capital Territory's rate, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 45.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lyons was $2,383, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Lyons was recorded as $360, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Lyons's 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 at 35.1% and group households making up 3.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Lyons' residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (51.4%) than the Australian average (30.4%). Bachelor degrees are most common at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 11.7%. Educational participation is high, with 29.7% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 8.2% in primary education, 7.1% in tertiary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Lyons has 17 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 51 different routes, offering a total of 3,383 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 210 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from Lyons. Cars are the primary mode of transport, used by 74% of residents, while 14% use buses and 7% walk. On average, there is one car per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 483 trips are made daily, equating to approximately 199 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lyons's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Lyons' health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch, show notable results with lower mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, particularly among younger cohorts. The prevalence of common health conditions in younger groups is very low.

Private health cover is high at approximately 57% of Lyons' total population (around 1,887 people), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 62.4%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 8.1 and 7.4% of residents respectively. About 70.5% of residents report no medical ailments, similar to the 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. Lyons has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 18.5% (612 people), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 14.3%, but this still ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

Lyons was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lyons has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.8% of its population born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lyons, making up 36.2% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 6.7% compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 3.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.2%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (17.3%), which is higher than the regional average of 12.2%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French (0.8% vs 0.5%), Sri Lankan (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Polish (1.0% vs 0.8%).

Lyons's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Lyons's median age of 37 years is slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligns with the national average of 38 years. The 85+ age group comprises 4.3% of Lyons' population, higher than Australian Capital Territory's percentage, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 9.7%, which is lower compared to Australian Capital Territory. Between 2021 and the present, the 55-64 age group has grown from 9.0% to 10.3% of Lyons' population, and the 85+ cohort has increased from 3.3% to 4.3%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 19.0% to 16.5%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 11.0% to 9.7%. By 2041, Lyons' population is forecasted to see substantial demographic changes. The 65-74 age cohort is projected to increase by 82 people (35%), from 235 to 318. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 0-4 cohorts.