Lawnton

Population growth drivers in Lawnton are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Lawnton's estimated population, as of Nov 2025, is around 6,952. This figure reflects a growth of 1,047 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,905. The increase was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 6,713 residents following examination of ABS ERP data (released June 2024), along with an additional 355 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 855 persons per square kilometer. Lawnton's population growth rate of 17.7% exceeded both the SA3 area average (8.6%) and the national average, making it a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 54.0% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) are applied for each age cohort where necessary. Looking ahead, Lawnton is projected to experience exceptional population growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of Australian statistical areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 3,604 persons, reflecting a total gain of 46.9% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Lawnton among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Lawnton has seen approximately 96 new home approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 480 homes. As of FY-26, 54 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling accommodates about 2 new residents per year, indicating strong demand for housing in the area. The average construction cost value for new homes is approximately $333,000.

In FY-26, there have been $7.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Lawnton has 200% more building activity per person. This high level of activity reflects strong developer confidence in the area and provides ample choice for buyers. The new construction trend favours standalone homes at 88%, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to families seeking space. With around 67 people per dwelling approval, Lawnton exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Future projections estimate that Lawnton will add approximately 3,257 residents by 2041. Construction pace is keeping up with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Lawnton has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects that could affect the region. Notable ones include the Strathpine Major Regional Activity Centre Master Plan, Petrie Central Retail and Residential Precinct Expansion, Moreton Bay Central (The Mill) - Knowledge and Innovation Precinct, and Les Hughes Sports Complex Master Plan Implementation. 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.

Employment drivers in Lawnton are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Lawnton has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 11.0% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 4.1%.

As of September 2025, 3,283 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 7.0%, higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is lower at 60.3% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Key industries employing locals include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

However, professional & technical services employ only 5.0% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work. In the past year, employment increased by 4.1% while labour force grew by 5.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Brisbane had employment growth of 3.8%, labour force growth of 3.3%, and a fall in unemployment of 0.5 percentage points. State-wide, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs) as of 25-Nov, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawnton's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Lawnton's median income among taxpayers is $51,039 and average is $55,611. This is lower than national averages. Greater Brisbane has a median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $56,097 (median) and $61,122 (average). The 2021 Census shows Lawnton's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly between the 25th and 38th percentiles. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.9% of residents (2,287 people), aligning with regional trends. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 22nd percentile.

Lawnton displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Lawnton's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 69.2% houses and 30.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had a higher proportion of houses at 78.9%, with 21.2% being other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawnton was lower than Brisbane metro's figure at 21.1%. Mortgaged dwellings accounted for 36.9%, and rented dwellings made up 42.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawnton was $1,517, which is below the Brisbane metro average of $1,625. The median weekly rent figure in Lawnton was recorded at $320, compared to Brisbane metro's $360. Nationally, Lawnton's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.3% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 22.3% couples without children, and 16.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.7%, with lone person households at 30.4% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.4 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 16.2%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 30.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lawnton has 48 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 36 different routes that facilitate a total of 1,955 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 183 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility.

On average, there are 279 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Lawnton is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Lawnton faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups are affected by various health conditions.

Private health cover is relatively low in Lawnton, at approximately 49% of the total population (around 3,423 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 12.4 and 9.5% of residents respectively. About 61.0% of Lawnton residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.8% across Greater Brisbane. As of 2021, 15.4% of Lawnton's population is aged 65 and over (around 1,070 people). Health outcomes among seniors in Lawnton are generally aligned with those of the broader population.

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 87.1% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (80.5%), and speaking English only at home (92.0%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 44.6% of Lawnton's population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category was slightly overrepresented in Lawnton at 1.0%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.9%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.8%), Australian (28.0%), and Scottish (8.1%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Maori were slightly overrepresented at 1.3% in Lawnton versus 1.4% regionally, New Zealand was equally represented at 1.1%, and Samoan was underrepresented at 0.7% compared to Greater Brisbane's 0.9%.

Lawnton's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Lawnton's median age is 36 years, equal to Greater Brisbane's but younger than the national average of 38 years. The 0-4 age group makes up 6.4% of Lawnton's population compared to Greater Brisbane. The 55-64 age cohort is less prevalent in Lawnton at 9.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 13.3% to 14.7% of Lawnton's population. Conversely, the 65-74 age cohort has declined from 8.8% to 7.7%. By 2041, forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Lawnton. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to rise substantially, increasing by 589 people (67%) from 882 to 1,472.