Lawson (ACT)

Population growth drivers in Lawson are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Lawson (ACT) is around 2,918. This reflects a growth of 179 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,739. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 2,872 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024, and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 947 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lawson's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's 2.7%, making it a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted. Future population trends indicate a decline of 287 persons by 2041 according to current methodology. However, specific age cohorts like the 45 to 54 age group are projected to grow, with an increase of 71 people anticipated.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Lawson according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Lawson averaged approximately one new dwelling approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling six homes. No dwelling approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. Over the same period, an average of 91.2 new residents arrived per year per dwelling constructed. This indicates significant demand exceeding supply, which typically drives price growth and increased buyer competition.

In FY-26, $27,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Lawson's residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has notably lower building activity, 91.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings often strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

Nationally, Lawson's activity is also below average, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. Stable or declining population forecasts may alleviate housing pressure in Lawson, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Lawson has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 19 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones are Mona Tait Gardens & Bullecourt Retirement Village Expansion, AIS Podium Project, Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct, and Bruce Innovation District. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Lawson rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Lawson has a highly educated workforce. Its unemployment rate was 1.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9%. As of September 2025, 2,156 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.5% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation is high at 87.1%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 8.9% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Lawson has a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented, with only 20.9% of Lawson's workforce compared to 30.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force increased by 0.9%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a decrease in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

Lawson's median income among taxpayers was $66,556, with an average of $80,376, according to AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for the financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to national figures and the Australian Capital Territory's median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. By September 2025, estimates based on a 9.26% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023 would be approximately $72,719 (median) and $87,819 (average). In Lawson, household, family, and personal incomes ranked highly nationally, between the 90th and 90th percentiles based on 2021 Census figures. The income distribution showed that 40.7% of residents (1,187 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, reflecting a similar trend in the broader area where 34.3% occupied this bracket. Economic strength was evident with 40.3% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consumed 18.6% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 10th decile.

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

Lawson's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 19.7% houses and 80.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawson was at 8.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.8% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Lawson was $548, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Lawson's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Lawson features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.4% of all households, including 21.5% couples with children, 31.5% couples without children, and 5.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.6%, with lone person households at 19.6% and group households comprising 17.5%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Lawson demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Lawson's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 62.7% of residents aged 15 years and above held university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 43.8%. This high level of educational attainment positions Lawson strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 23.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.1%.

Vocational pathways account for 16.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas making up 7.5% and certificates 9.1%. Educational participation is notably high in Lawson, with 38.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This includes 20.1% in tertiary education, 5.6% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Lawson has nine operational public transport stops, all providing bus services. These stops are served by forty different routes, facilitating a total of 2,601 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents typically residing 168 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 88% of residents, while buses are used by 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 371 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 289 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Lawson's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Approximately 59% of Lawson's total population (1,719 people) has private health cover, compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. 84.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Lawson has 3.5% of residents aged 65 and over (102 people), lower than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Lawson is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lawson's population is culturally diverse, with 54.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 53.0% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Lawson, comprising 25.4% of its population. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestry groups in Lawson are Other at 18.6%, Chinese at 17.6%, and English at 15.2%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Other is substantially higher (18.6% vs 12.2%), Chinese is also notably higher (17.6% vs 4.2%), while English is lower (15.2% vs 23.3%). Additionally, Korean (1.6% vs 0.6%) and Indian (7.7% vs 3.3%) are overrepresented, as is Vietnamese (2.8% vs 1.0%).

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

Lawson's median age is 29 years, which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and also significantly below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (35.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (1.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably above the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, Lawson's residents have aged on average by 1.4 years since the previous census, with the median age rising from 28 to 29 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 16.0% to 19.2%, while those aged 45-54 have risen from 6.4% to 9.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has decreased from 21.0% to 15.8%, and those aged 25-34 have dropped from 37.8% to 35.6%. Demographic projections suggest that Lawson's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 48 people (238%) from the current figure of 20. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 59% of total population growth in Lawson, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, both the 65-74 age group and the 0-4 age group are projected to decrease in number.