Lawson (ACT)

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

As of November 2025, Lawson's population is estimated at around 2918 people. This reflects an increase of 179 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2739 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population as 2872 following examination of the latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and an additional 18 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of approximately 947 persons per square kilometer, which is comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lawson's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (2.4%) and the state average, making it a notable growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 overall, with the suburb's population expected to reduce by 287 persons by 2041 according to these projections. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 45 to 54 age group, projected to increase by 71 people.

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 indicates Lawson averaged approximately one new dwelling approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated six homes. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY-26. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an average of 91.2 new residents arrived per year per dwelling constructed. This significant demand exceeding supply typically results in price growth and increased buyer competition.

In the current financial year, $27,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Lawson's residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson records markedly lower building activity, 91.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings usually 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 indicate less 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 influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones are Mona Tait Gardens & Bullecourt Retirement Village Expansion, AIS Podium Project, Onderra, and Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct. 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's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 1.2% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.3%.

As of June 2025, 2,179 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.4%, and workforce participation at 81.3%. Dominant sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, professional & technical services. The area has 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 Australian Capital Territory.

Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.3%, labour force by 1.6%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. By contrast, Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 1.9% with a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawson's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 and average was $80,376 according to AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022. This is notably high nationally, with Australian Capital Territory's median being $68,678 and average at $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Lawson would be approximately $75,608 (median) and $91,307 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Lawson rank highly nationally: household income at the 90th percentile, family income at the 90th percentile, and personal income also at the 90th percentile. Income distribution shows that 40.7% of residents (1,187 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to the broader area where 34.3% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 40.3% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, which supports elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 18.6% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 87th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places 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 (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawson was at 8.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.8% and rented dwellings at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average. Median weekly rent was $548, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $2,000 and $430 respectively. Nationally, Lawson's mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 constitute 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 has a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 62.7% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 43.8% in the SA3 area. This gives Lawson a significant educational advantage. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%).

Vocational pathways account for 16.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above - advanced diplomas make up 7.5% and certificates, 9.1%. Educational participation is high in Lawson, with 38.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 20.1% in tertiary education, 5.6% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing secondary education. Schools appear to be located outside Lawson's immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access them in neighboring areas.

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

Lawson has ten active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by five different routes that collectively facilitate 1,233 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 168 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 176 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 123 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

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Lawson, with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 59% of the total population (1,719 people) has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 6.7% and 6.5% of residents respectively. Notably, 84.0% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments compared to 68.1% across the Australian Capital Territory. As of 2021, 3.0% of Lawson's residents are aged 65 and over (87 people), which is lower than the 15.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (18.6%), Chinese (17.6%), and English (15.2%). Korean (1.6%) and Indian (7.7%) populations are notably higher than regional averages, while Vietnamese (2.8%) is slightly overrepresented compared to the region's 1.2%.

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 significantly below Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lawson has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (36.7%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (1.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Lawson's population aged 35-44 has increased from 16.0% to 19.1%, while the 45-54 age group has risen from 6.4% to 8.6%. Conversely, the 15-24 age group has decreased from 21.0% to 16.1%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 5.8% to 4.6%. Population forecasts for Lawson in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 688% (from 60 people to 69), representing a significant portion of the anticipated population growth, with residents aged 65 and older accounting for 53% of this increase. In contrast, population declines are expected for the 65-74 age group and the 0-4 age group.