Lawnton

Lawnton lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lawnton's population is around 8,206 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,111 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,095 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,934 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 384 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 882 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lawnton's growth of 15.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (8.7%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period to 2041 with the area expected to increase by 4,217 persons, reflecting an increase of 48.1% in total over the 17 years, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Lawnton was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Lawnton has received approximately 102 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 514 homes. As of FY-26, 58 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has accommodated around 2.3 new residents per year between FY-21 and FY-25, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for these dwellings was $219,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

In the current financial year, Lawnton has registered $7.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Lawnton has 168% more building activity per person, providing ample choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. The new developments consist of 87% detached dwellings and 13% townhouses or apartments, preserving Lawnton's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 85 people moving into the area for each dwelling approval, Lawnton exhibits growth area characteristics. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Lawnton is projected to add 3,945 residents by 2041.

Construction pace has been reasonable, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Lawnton has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 31 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Gateway to Bruce Upgrade (G2BU), Strathpine Major Regional Activity Centre Master Plan, Moreton Bay Central (The Mill) - Knowledge and Innovation Precinct, and Petrie Central Retail and Residential Precinct Expansion. 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 reveals Lawnton recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Lawnton's workforce comprises both white and blue-collar jobs, with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate was 10.2%, indicating a need for improvement compared to Greater Brisbane's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.1%. In total, 4,025 residents were employed as of that date. The workforce participation rate in Lawnton was broadly similar to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Key employment sectors included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, with the latter being particularly notable at 1.2 times the regional average.

However, professional & technical services had a limited presence with only 5.3% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.9%. An analysis of data from AreaSearch over a 12-month period showed that while employment increased by 4.1%, the labour force grew by 5.3%, leading to an increase in unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 3.8% and a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from Queensland up to 25-Nov showed that employment had contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. This was broadly in line with the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. Job and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts, issued in May-25, projected a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. However, growth rates varied significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Lawnton's current employment mix suggests that local employment could increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, although these figures are based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Lawnton SA2's median income among taxpayers was $54,114 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $58,962 during the same period. For Greater Brisbane, these figures were $55,645 and $70,520 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, estimates suggest median income would be approximately $61,685 and average income around $67,211 by September 2025. Census data shows household incomes rank at the 47th percentile, family incomes at the 35th percentile, and personal incomes between these two percentiles in Lawnton. Income brackets indicate that 34.9% of residents (2,863 individuals) earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly, which is consistent with broader area trends showing 33.3% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 81.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 32nd percentile.

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

Lawnton's residential structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.4% houses and 27.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 72.4% houses and 27.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawnton stood at 20.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.7% and rented ones at 39.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,602, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $1,865. Median weekly rent in Lawnton was $340, compared to Brisbane metro's $360. Nationally, Lawnton's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Lawnton features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 68.5% of all households, including 27.9% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 16.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.5%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 4.0% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Lawnton fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.3%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 30.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.1% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lawnton has 51 active public transport stops operating, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 31 individual routes, collectively facilitating 1,963 weekly passenger trips. The transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 189 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 280 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Lawnton is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Lawnton faces significant health challenges with higher prevalence of common conditions compared to averages. Among older age groups, this prevalence is even higher.

Private health cover stands at approximately 49%, lower than the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are most prevalent, affecting 11.9% and 9.3% respectively, while 63.6% report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Brisbane's 63.8%. The area has 14.2% residents aged 65 and over (1,163 people), lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.6%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to these challenges.

Lawnton ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Lawnton's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.7% of its population being Australian citizens and 80.4% born in Australia. English was the language spoken at home by 91.5% of Lawnton residents. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 46.5% of people in Lawnton.

The category 'Other' religions comprised only 0.9%, compared to the regional average of 0.9%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.7%), Australian (28.0%), and Scottish (7.9%). Notably, Maori (1.3%) and Samoan (0.7%) populations in Lawnton were slightly lower than regional averages of 1.4% and 0.9%, respectively, while New Zealanders made up 0.9%, compared to the region's 1.1%.

Lawnton's population is younger than the national pattern

Lawnton's median age is 35 years, nearly matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years, which is somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Lawnton has a higher concentration of 0-4 residents at 7.0%, but fewer 55-64 year-olds at 9.0%. Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.3% to 15.5% of Lawnton's population. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 8.2% to 7.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Lawnton, with the 45-54 age group projected to grow by 70%, adding 687 residents to reach a total of 1,676.