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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Lyons stands at approximately 7,442 in May 2026. This represents a rise of 1,436 people (23.9%) from the 6,006 residents recorded during the 2021 Census. The fluctuation is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 7,442 combined with 108 validated new addresses confirmed after the Census. This population level yields a density of 1,057 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical outcomes across analyzed territories. The 23.9% expansion rate in Lyons since the 2021 census outpaced the national growth level (9.3%) and the broader SA3 area, positioning it as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of these population gains was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 51.9% of the overall increase over recent timeframes.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 projections from the ABS/Geoscience Australia for each SA2 region, which use 2022 as their starting point. In instances where SA2 regions lack this coverage, or to compute growth beyond 2032, cohort-based growth rates by age from the latest Greater Capital Region projections (published by the ABS in 2023 using 2022 data) are applied. Looking ahead to future population shifts, the suburb is projected to experience growth above the national median, increasing by 1,626 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, which represents a total expansion of 21.9% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Lyons among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Lyons has recorded approximately 35 residential building approvals annually, translating to 177 new dwellings during the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 19 approvals have been logged. Considering that an average of 7.1 new residents per constructed dwelling have relocated to the area annually between FY-21 and FY-25, the local supply is falling behind demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and exerts upward pressure on prices, while newly built homes carry an average construction value of $377,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $800,000 have been logged this financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential character of the suburb.

In comparison to Greater Darwin, Lyons exhibits 193.0% more construction volume per resident, giving buyers more options even though building momentum has decreased in recent times. The latest construction activity consists of 91.0% separate houses and 9.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the suburban landscape with a focus on detached homes that appeal to purchasers seeking space. With roughly 400 individuals for every approved residential dwelling, Lyons represents a mature market.

Long-term forecasts indicate that Lyons will gain 1,626 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. The pace of construction remains reasonably aligned with this projected growth, though buyers might face increased competition as the population expands.

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

Local performance is heavily shaped by developments in infrastructure, key projects, and planning strategies. AreaSearch has identified 7 projects that are expected to influence this locality. Prominent projects include the Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, the Lee Point Master-planned Urban Development, the Edgeview Court Water Main Replacement, and the Casuarina Square Redevelopment, with details provided below for the most significant undertakings.

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

The workforce in Lyons is highly qualified, with strong representation from the essential services sector, an unemployment rate of only 0.6%, and estimated job growth of 0.7% over the prior year. In March 2026, 4,178 local residents were employed, and the unemployment rate sat 2.8% lower than the 3.5% registered across Greater Darwin, while workforce participation is relatively typical (76.2% versus 72.7% in Greater Darwin). According to Census statistics, a small proportion of 4.0% of workers operated from home, though this figure may be influenced by lockdowns related to Covid-19.

The primary sectors employing local residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The suburb shows a particularly high density of workers in public administration & safety, standing at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, construction provides employment for only 5.7% of the local workforce, which is below the 9.2% average in Greater Darwin. The location seems to present few local employment options, as shown by comparing the Census working population against the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12 months leading to March 2026, employment grew by 0.7% while the labour force expanded by 0.8%, causing the unemployment rate to tick up by 0.1 percentage points. This differed from Greater Darwin, where employment increased by 0.4%, the labour force expanded by 0.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment predictions released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on prospective demand in Lyons. These five and ten-year projections have been analyzed alongside the local employment structure to project growth trends. Although national employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates vary significantly across different industries. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the employment profile of Lyons suggests local employment will rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, which is a basic weighted projection for illustration that does not incorporate local population forecasts.

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

The latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show that incomes in the Lyons SA2 rank in the highest national percentile, with a median of $82,648 and an average of $97,164. This is higher than the Greater Darwin medians of $66,956 and averages of $77,199. Adjusted for a 9.41% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to approximately $90,425 for the median and $106,307 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows that household, family, and individual incomes in Lyons are situated between the 96th and 96th national percentiles. The income profile indicates that 39.3% of the community (2,924 people) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, which resembles the broader regional trend where 36.7% fall into this category. The high proportion of top-tier earners (49.3% receiving over $3,000/week) demonstrates substantial financial capacity in the area. After accounting for housing expenditure, residents keep 87.0% of their earnings, indicating strong purchasing power, while the SEIFA index places the suburb in the 9th decile for income.

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

Residential architecture in Lyons at the time of the latest Census consisted of 87.1% detached houses and 12.9% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, apartments, and other dwellings, compared to the Darwin metropolitan breakdown of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Meanwhile, home ownership rates in Lyons lagged the Darwin metro average at 8.5%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (40.6%) or occupied by tenants (51.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,600 was notably higher than the Darwin metro median of $2,100, whereas the median weekly rent of $280 was lower than the Darwin metro median of $385. On a national level, mortgage commitments in Lyons are much higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rental costs are significantly lower than the national median of $375.

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

Families make up the vast majority of households at 89.3%, consisting of couples with children at 58.8%, couples without children at 23.3%, and single parents at 5.9%. Non-family households account for the remaining 10.7%, with single-person households representing 8.4% and group households making up 2.6%. The median household occupancy of 3.3 individuals is 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

The level of education in Lyons is substantially higher than state and national benchmarks, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 27.3% across the NT and 30.4% nationwide. This educational profile positions the suburb well for professional opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (11.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational training is also well represented, with 31.6% of the population aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.7%) and certificates (19.9%).

Participation in study is high, with 39.4% of the population currently enrolled in education. This group includes 15.1% in primary school, 9.2% in high school, and 7.9% pursuing higher education.

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

Public transport options include 7 active transit stops in Lyons, consisting of bus services. These stops support 22 separate routes that combine to deliver 1,017 passenger trips every week. Accessibility to transit is moderate, with residents living an average of 436 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a residential suburb, most workers travel outside the area, and cars remain the primary transport mode for 92% of commutes. Households own an average of 1.9 vehicles, which is above the regional average. A small proportion of 4.0% of workers work from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency across all routes averages 145 trips per day, which translates to approximately 145 weekly trips for each transit stop in the area.

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

Health indicators show excellent outcomes in Lyons, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic illness indicators, which reveal a very low rate of common health issues across all demographics. Furthermore, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is exceptionally high at roughly 70% of the population (5,187 people). This compares to 57.8% in Greater Darwin and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health issues were the most prevalent medical concerns locally, affecting 5.1% and 5.0% of the population respectively, while 83.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 77.1% in Greater Darwin. The proportion of residents aged 65 and older is 3.9% (291 people), which is lower than the 11.0% recorded in Greater Darwin. Seniors in this area exhibit very strong health profiles, with national rankings that align with the broader population trends.

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 exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 39.3% of the population born outside Australia and 40.0% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 46.5% of the local population. However, the most notable religious concentration is Hinduism at 6.2% of residents, compared to 4.2% across Greater Darwin.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parents' birthplaces, the three largest groups in Lyons are Australian at 19.6%, English at 17.1%, and Other at 16.5%. There are also distinct differences in other ethnic communities, with Filipino residents overrepresented at 5.1% (compared to 3.8% in the region), Greek at 4.7% (compared to 2.3%), and Sri Lankan at 1.0% (compared to 0.3%).

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

The median age in Lyons is 30 years, which is lower than the Greater Darwin average of 34 and the national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Darwin, Lyons has a larger share of residents aged 5 - 14 (17.9%) but a smaller share of people aged 65 - 74 (2.4%). The proportion of children aged 5 - 14 is higher than the national figure of 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket has risen from 12.2% to 13.8% of the population, while the cohort aged 0 to 4 has decreased from 9.9% to 7.9%. Demographic projections for 2041 show significant changes ahead for Lyons, led by the 45 to 54 cohort, which is expected to grow by 45% (435 people) to reach 1,405 from 969.