Lawson (NSW)

Lawson is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Lawson's NSW population, as of Nov 2025, is estimated at around 2,666 people. This reflects a growth of 15 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 2,651. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of Lawson's resident population at 2,660, based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of ten new addresses post-census. This results in a population density ratio of 365 persons per square kilometer. Lawson's growth rate since the census, at 0.6%, is within 0.6 percentage points of its SA3 area's growth (1.2%), indicating strong growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 62.0% to overall population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2-level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb is expected to increase its population by approximately 160 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 5.8% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Lawson, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data shows Lawson has seen approximately 13 new homes approved each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 67 homes. As of FY26, 4 approvals have been recorded. Despite a population decrease during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population change, which is positive for buyers. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings in Lawson is $409,000, below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

In FY26, $686,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lawson records 151.0% more new home approvals per person. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 592 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Lawson is expected to grow by 154 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Lawson has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

No infrastructure changes or major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely impacting this area. Key projects potentially affecting it include Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Paling Yards Wind Farm, and Sydney Metro.

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The employment environment in Lawson shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Lawson's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 2.5%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

In comparison, Greater Sydney had an unemployment rate of 4.2% at the same time. The employment rate among Lawson residents was 1.7% lower than Greater Sydney's while workforce participation was similar at 60.0%. Key industries for Lawson residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. Notably, education & training has a high concentration with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Conversely, finance & insurance has limited presence with only 1.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.3%. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data for the wider area over a 12-month period showed a decrease in labour force by 2.3%, alongside an employment decline of 1.8%, leading to a reduction in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lawson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Lawson's median income among taxpayers is $47,979, with an average of $58,187. This is below the national average and compares to Greater Sydney's median of $56,994 and average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $54,029 (median) and $65,524 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Lawson, between the 34th and 36th percentiles. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.2% of residents (858 people), aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 36th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Lawson's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 94.3% houses and 5.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Sydney metropolitan area's structure which was 92.3% houses and 7.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawson stood at 37.2%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (44.0%) or rented (18.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawson was $1,849, below Sydney metro's average of $2,033. The median weekly rent figure in Lawson was recorded at $387, compared to Sydney metro's $400. Nationally, Lawson's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Lawson features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.6% of all households, including 27.8% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 33.4%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the Greater Sydney average.

The educational profile of Lawson exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Lawson's educational profile is notable within its region. University qualification rates exceed the SA4 average at 33.7% of residents aged 15+, indicating a strong emphasis on higher education in the community. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 11.0% while certificates make up 23.8%. Educational participation is high at 27.3%, including primary education (8.4%), secondary education (7.0%), and tertiary education (4.6%). Lawson's three schools have a combined enrollment of 328 students, operating under typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities (ICSEA: 1049). Educational provision is balanced with two primary schools and one secondary school serving distinct age groups.

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

Lawson has 22 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 19 different routes that together facilitate 792 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically residing within 278 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 113 daily trips across all routes, resulting in approximately 36 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Lawson is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Lawson faces significant health challenges, as indicated by its health data. Both younger and older age groups show a high prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately half (50%) of Lawson's total population (~1,332 people) has private health cover, which is lower than Greater Sydney's 54.4% and the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 10.9% and 9.3% of residents respectively. However, 62.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 64.1% in Greater Sydney. Lawson has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (20.4%, or 543 people) than Greater Sydney (24.3%). The health outcomes among seniors are challenging, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Lawson's population was found to be predominantly born in Australia, with 81.9%. Citizenship stood at 91.5%, and English was spoken exclusively at home by 93.6%. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 39.5% of Lawson's population.

Notably, Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.2% locally compared to the same proportion regionally. In terms of ancestry, the top groups were English (30.8%), Australian (26.4%), and Scottish (9.3%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Welsh at 1.1% in Lawson versus 0.7% regionally, French at 0.9% versus 0.6%, and Dutch at 1.8% versus 1.6%.

Lawson hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Lawson is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lawson has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (16.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (9.3%). This concentration of the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Lawson's population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 4.8% to 6.8%, while the proportion of those aged 55 to 64 has declined from 17.6% to 16.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lawson's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 56%, reaching 282 people from 181. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 85% of total population growth, reflecting Lawson's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to decrease in number.