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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Lyons (ACT) has an estimated 3,312 residents, up from 3,271 at the 2021 Census — a change of 41 people, or 1.3%. That puts 1,466 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the resident count in Lyons stands at approximately 3,312 as of Aug 2026. This represents a gain of 41 people (1.3%) compared to the 2021 Census, when 3,271 people were counted. This figure is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 3,310 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 35 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The suburb exhibits a population density of 1,465 persons per square kilometer, outperforming the national average across locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Inbound international migration served as the principal demographic engine, accounting for roughly 81.3% of total net additions in recent times.
Projections for SA2 districts published by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 baseline figures are utilized by AreaSearch. For any locations omitted from that release or looking beyond 2032, age-cohort growth estimates from the ACT Government's SA2 projections (anchored to 2022) are applied. Future outlooks indicate population expansion slightly trailing the median for national statistical areas, with expectations that the locality will expand by 267 persons to 2041 according to current annual ERP figures, translating to an overall growth rate of 8.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
41 new dwellings have been approved in Lyons (ACT) over the past five years, an average of 8 a year. That is 2.5 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Council approvals have been granted for roughly 8 dwellings per year in Lyons, totaling 41 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over this period, the suburb gained an average of only 0.8 people per year for every home constructed during the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), indicating that incoming residential supply meets or exceeds local absorption, ensuring healthy purchaser options and headroom for greater demographic expansion, with newly built residences averaging an expected build cost of $381,000. Residential building volumes in Lyons are subdued when compared to Australian Capital Territory, lagging by 86.0% below regional average per person.
Such low construction levels typically support valuations and buyer interest across existing housing, even though activity has shown a recent uptick. Volume also remains below nationwide averages, underscoring the established urban fabric and potential zoning or site constraints. Of recent additions, 50.0% were detached houses and 50.0% were townhouses or apartments. This balance toward higher-density dwelling options creates accessible price points for first-time buyers, downsizers, and property investors. There are roughly 332 people per dwelling approval, representative of a mature suburb. Long-term forecasts anticipate that Lyons will welcome 265 residents by 2041 (utilizing the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch). While construction rates currently align reasonably well with expected demographic growth, prospective buyers may face heightened market competition as the local population base widens.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lyons (ACT)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Lyons (ACT), worth an estimated $595 million. A further 38 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.48 billion. 6 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital works, major development initiatives, and planning schemes play a vital role in shaping community growth. A total of 22 key projects with local significance have been catalogued by AreaSearch. Notable developments include the Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), The Hunter, and CIT Woden Campus, with detailed outlines of key projects provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
WOVA Residential Precinct
Four distinctive residential towers with 802 apartments, 54 Abode Hotel rooms, and 22 commercial tenancies. Features resort-style amenities including lap pool, fitness studio, private cinema, and rooftop terraces. Completed 2024.
The Hunter
The final stage of Canberra developer Doma Group's 670-apartment masterplan. It includes two new buildings of 16 and 18 storeys, comprising 189 apartments with basement and podium level car parking, communal areas, and a pool.
Oaks Arbour Apartments
Modern apartment complex with landscaped courtyards and community facilities. Focus on livability and environmental sustainability.
Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip)
A premium 18-storey residential tower offering 212 apartments with rooftop amenities, ground-floor retail and direct connection to the redeveloped Woden Town Square.
Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip)
A landmark 20-storey mixed-use residential tower comprising 188 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail and commercial space, located directly opposite Westfield Woden in the Phillip town centre. Developed by Zapari, the project forms part of the broader high-rise transformation of the Woden Town Centre precinct.
Woden Pool Project (Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment)
Staged redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre site in Woden by Geocon. Stage one, approved by the ACT Territory Planning Authority on 16 December 2025, comprises two 13-storey residential towers with 286 apartments above a new public aquatic centre featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor lap pool, warm water program pool, splash pad, learn-to-swim and toddler areas, cafe, and steam and sauna facilities. The existing outdoor 50-metre pool and the ice-skating rink will remain operational during stage one construction, with their future considered in later stages.Geocon intends to eventually deliver around 696 to 700 apartments across five buildings in three stages on the 1.29 hectare site. Minor structural amendments to the approved stage one design remain under assessment.
Public Housing Renewal - Ulverstone Street
A proposal to replace four ageing dwellings with up to six new, modern, and energy-efficient homes. The new homes will be purpose-built for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Canberrans and will be built to Class C Adaptable standards, allowing them to be modified to meet changing needs.
1,840 residents of Lyons (ACT) are employed, from a labour force of 1,930. Unemployment sits at 4.7%, with participation at 69.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,453, about 74% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labor force in Lyons is distinguished by strong educational qualifications and substantial participation in essential service industries, maintaining an unemployment rate of 4.7% alongside solid employment stability over the preceding twelve months. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,840, with local unemployment tracking 0.6% above Australian Capital Territory's rate of 4.1%, while overall participation sits close to Australian Capital Territory's 70.6%. Census figures showed that only 10.8% of workers carried out their duties from home, a metric that may have been shaped by Covid-19 lockdown measures. The primary sectors providing jobs to local workers are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
The community demonstrates notable concentration in health care & social assistance, where local employment reaches 1.4 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 8.3% employment versus 11.1% regionally. Given the disparity between Census working population numbers and local resident counts, this predominantly suburban enclave offers relatively few jobs within its immediate borders. AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM figures indicates that during the 12 months to March 2026, the local workforce grew by 1.1% while total jobs fell by 0.3%, driving a 1.4 percentage points rise in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, the labor force expand by 1.1%, and unemployment climb by 0.7 percentage points. Future employment requirements in Lyons can be evaluated through national workforce outlooks released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied across local industry distributions. Nationwide jobs are expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector trajectories vary widely. Calibrating Lyons's industry composition against these trajectories suggests local employment will rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years (note that this represents a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Lyons (ACT) is $2,062 a week (about $107,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,097 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $62,799 a year against an average of $76,205. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated postcode records from the ATO for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicate that the Lyons SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $62,799 and an average of $76,205. Although surpassing national benchmarks, these figures trail the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, updated earnings are estimated at roughly $69,355 (median) and $84,161 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places personal earnings at the 85th percentile nationally ($1,097 weekly).
In terms of spread, 30.9% of the population (1,023 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the broader territory pattern of 34.3% in that tier. A notable 32.7% above $3,000/week emphasizes the substantial financial capacity of the neighborhood. While residential costs take up 15.2% of income, strong revenue streams keep disposable income at the 71st percentile, placing the suburb in the 8th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Lyons (ACT) had 1,342 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 52% detached houses and 28% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 45% rented and 28% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $360 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,383 a month. Rent absorbs 17.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the most recent Census, the housing stock in Lyons was divided into 51.7% houses and 48.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the wider Australian Capital Territory profile of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stood at 27.5%, matching the Australian Capital Territory rate, while 27.1% of households held a mortgage and 45.4% were renting. Typical monthly mortgage commitments were $2,383, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080, while median weekly rent was $360 compared to $450 territory-wide. Across the broader country, mortgage costs in Lyons sit well above the Australian figure of $1,863, whereas rental prices remain below the national mark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Lyons (ACT) counted 1,342 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 26% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families form the majority of living arrangements at 61.2% of all households, consisting of 26.2% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family residences make up the remaining 38.8%, where 35.1% are single-person households and 3.9% are group households. With a median household size of 2.3 people, occupancy is slightly lower than the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
51.4% of adults in Lyons (ACT) hold a university qualification, including 26.4% with a bachelor degree and 19.3% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 98% of areas nationally. A further 11.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 99 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,129 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Lyons demonstrates exceptional levels of academic accomplishment, with 51.4% of residents aged 15+ holding university credentials, substantially higher than the 30.4% recorded across Australia. This educational standing positions the workforce well for knowledge-intensive sectors. Bachelor degrees represent 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational credentials comprise 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (11.7%). A substantial 29.7% of local residents are actively pursuing formal study. Among these learners, 8.2% are enrolled in primary education, 7.1% attend tertiary institutions, and 6.8% are undertaking secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Lyons (ACT) reaches 14 stops on 40 routes, timetabled for about 2,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.0 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Lyons includes 14 active stops providing bus connections across the area. These stops are integrated into 40 separate routes, delivering 2,484 weekly passenger trips. Local transit connectivity is favorable, with residents situated an average of 212 meters from their closest stop. Given the suburb's residential focus, the majority travel outbound for work, with private motor vehicles serving as the dominant mode for 74%, while 14% take buses and 7% walk. Average vehicle ownership is 1.0 per dwelling, trailing the regional standard. A modest 10.8% of workers operated from home during the 2021 Census, which may have captured COVID-19 related workplace conditions.
Across all transit routes, services run at an average of 354 trips per day, which provides approximately 177 weekly departures per stop location.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.5% of residents in Lyons (ACT) report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 83% of areas nationally. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness and mortality statistics indicates excellent overall health metrics throughout Lyons, with younger demographics recording particularly low levels of typical health ailments. Furthermore, private health insurance coverage is extensive at around 57% of the total population (~1,887 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. The primary medical diagnoses recorded locally are mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 8.1 and 7.4% of residents, respectively, whereas 70.5% reported no long-term illnesses, just above the Australian Capital Territory figure of 70.2%. Favorable health results are especially evident among the under-65 cohort.
Senior citizens aged 65 and over make up 18.0% of the population (596 people), exceeding the 14.2% across Australian Capital Territory, though this demographic tracks below broader population health rankings nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
36.8% of Lyons (ACT) residents were born overseas and 30.6% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 78% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (23.2%) and Australian (21.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is pronounced in Lyons, where 36.8% of community members were born overseas and 30.6% converse in a language other than English at home. Christianity is the leading faith, practiced by 36.2% of residents. A distinctive religious demographic is Buddhism, which accounts for 6.7% of the local populace, well above the 3.0% seen across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental heritage, the leading reported backgrounds in Lyons are English at 23.2%, Australian at 21.0%, and Other at 17.3%, the latter significantly exceeding the regional baseline of 12.2%. Further cultural variations are visible in specific ancestral groups, including French at 0.8% of Lyons (vs 0.5% regionally), Sri Lankan at 0.7% (vs 0.4%), and Polish at 1.0% (vs 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lyons (ACT) is 36. 28.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age profile of Lyons aligns closely with Australian Capital Territory overall, showing a maximum variance of only 4.4 percentage points across major age categories. The estimated median age is 36, identical to its 2021 Census reading and 1 year above the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 35 from that same Census. The 25 - 44 demographic has eased from 33.6% down to an estimated 32.5% since the Census. Moving toward 2041, the senior bracket (65+) is projected to see the strongest expansion, rising by 150 residents (25%) to reach 746, whereas the young to middle-aged cohort is anticipated to shrink over this timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Lyons (ACT)
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 5 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 35 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,271 at the 2021 Census → 3,312 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801091105). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.