Lyons (NT)

Lyons lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Lyons's population is 7,038 as of February 2026. This reflects a growth of 1,032 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,006. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 6,989 in June 2024 and an additional 108 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 999 persons per square kilometer. Lyons's growth rate of 17.2% since the 2021 census exceeded regional averages. Growth was primarily driven by natural increase contributing approximately 55.4%.

AreaSearch projects above median population growth for Lyons based on ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Considering these projections, Lyons is expected to grow by 1,753 persons to reach 8,791 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 24.2% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Lyons when compared nationally

Lyons has averaged approximately 35 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 177 homes. In FY26 so far, 9 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of 5.7 people move to Lyons for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating high demand outpacing supply, which typically drives up prices and increases competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $377,000.

This financial year has seen $800,000 in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Darwin, Lyons shows 201% higher development activity per person, offering buyers greater choice despite recent moderation in development activity. The new building activity comprises 91% standalone homes and 9% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Lyons' suburban identity with a focus on family homes. With around 380 people per approval, Lyons indicates a mature market.

According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Lyons is projected to gain 1,704 residents by 2041, suggesting development is keeping pace with projected growth, although increasing competition among buyers may arise as the population expands.

Lyons has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 0thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely affecting this region. Notable ones are Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, Lee Point Master-planned Urban Development, Edgeview Court Water Main Replacement, Casuarina Square Redevelopment. The following list details those 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Lyons performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Lyons has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 0.5% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%.

The area's unemployment rate is 2.6% lower than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%, with workforce participation at 81.5% compared to Greater Darwin's 76.0%. According to Census responses, 4.0% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Lyons has a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Construction employs only 5.7% of local workers, below Greater Darwin's 9.2%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, and labour force grew by 2.4%, keeping the unemployment rate stable. In contrast, Greater Darwin saw employment rise by 1.9% and labour force grow by 1.9%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lyons's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years.

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

Lyons SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $82,648 and an average income of $97,164 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is significantly higher than the national figures, with Greater Darwin having a median income of $66,956 and an average income of $77,199. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $89,623 (median) and $105,365 (average). According to census data, household, family, and personal incomes in Lyons rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 96th percentiles. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 39.3% of the community, which is consistent with broader trends across the area showing 36.7% in the same category. Economic strength is evident through 49.3% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 87.0% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Lyons is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Lyons' dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.1% houses and 12.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). In comparison, Darwin metro had 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lyons was at 8.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.6% and rented ones at 51.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lyons was $2,600, surpassing Darwin metro's average of $2,100. The median weekly rent figure in Lyons was recorded as $280, compared to Darwin metro's $385. Nationally, Lyons' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

Lyons features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 89.3 percent of all households, including 58.8 percent couples with children, 23.3 percent couples without children, and 5.9 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 10.7 percent, with lone person households at 8.4 percent and group households comprising 2.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 3.3 people, larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

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

Lyons has a significantly higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 40.9% hold university qualifications compared to 27.3% in Northern Territory (NT) and 30.4% nationwide. This is led by bachelor degrees at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.6% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas at 11.7% and certificates at 19.9%.

Educational participation is high in Lyons, with 39.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.1% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 7.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lyons has seven active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 22 different routes that collectively facilitate 1,017 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility in Lyons is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 436 meters away from the nearest transport stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation, used by 92% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 145 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 145 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lyons's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

AreaSearch's assessment shows Lyons' outstanding health outcomes. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 70% of the total population (4,905 people), higher than Greater Darwin's 57.8% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions are asthma (5.1%) and mental health issues (5.0%). Eighty-three point seven percent of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 77.1% in Greater Darwin. Four point three percent of residents are aged 65 and over (302 people), lower than Greater Darwin's 10.8%. Senior health outcomes align with national rankings, mirroring those of the general 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 has a high level of cultural diversity, with 39.3% of its population born overseas and 40.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Lyons, comprising 46.5% of people. Hinduism is overrepresented in Lyons compared to Greater Darwin, making up 6.2% versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (19.6%), English (17.1%), and Other (16.5%). Notably, Filipino (5.1%) and Greek (4.7%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 3.8% and 2.3%, respectively. Sri Lankan ancestry is also notable at 1.0%, higher than the regional average of 0.3%.

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

Lyons's median age is 30 years, which is lower than Greater Darwin's average of 34 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Darwin, Lyons has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (18.3%), but fewer residents aged 55-64 (5.6%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 12.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has increased from 12.2% to 13.5%, while the proportion of residents aged 0-4 has decreased from 9.9% to 8.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Lyons, with the 45-54 age group expected to grow by 48% (an increase of 453 people), reaching a total of 1,401 from its current figure of 947.