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

As of Feb 2026, Lawson's estimated population is around 2,674, showing an increase of 23 people since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was 2,651. This growth reflects a resident population estimate of 2,667 by AreaSearch following the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 366 persons per square kilometer. Lawson's 0.9% growth since census compares to the SA3 area's 1.7%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed around 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Lawson is expected to increase by around 154 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of approximately 5.5% 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 for Lawson shows approximately 11 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years ending June 2025. This totals an estimated 58 homes. As of FY-26, which began July 2025, there have been 5 approvals recorded. Despite population decline during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population change, benefiting buyers.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $409,000. This year, Lawson has also seen commercial approvals totalling $343,000, indicating its residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Lawson exhibits 160% higher building activity per capita as of June 2025, offering buyers more choice. However, construction activity has recently eased.

All recent building activity consists of detached dwellings, maintaining Lawson's traditional low-density character and appeal for families seeking space. As of June 2025, the estimated population per dwelling approval is 531 people. Future projections from AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate suggest Lawson will add 147 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that may impact this area. Notable projects include Regional NSW Road Network Safety Improvements, Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, Paling Yards Wind Farm, and Sydney Metro. The following list outlines those likely to be most relevant.

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The labour market in Lawson shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Lawson has an educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, Lawson has 1,436 residents employed, with an unemployment rate at 1.6% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Lawson is lower than Greater Sydney's, at 66.0% compared to 70.2%. Census responses indicate that 40.4% of residents work from home. The key industries for employment among Lawson residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. Notably, the area has a high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

However, finance & insurance has limited presence, with only 1.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.3%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.8%, and employment decreased by 4.2% in Lawson, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide insight into potential future demand within Lawson. These projections suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Lawson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Lawson's median income among taxpayers was $47,979 in financial year 2023. The average income was $58,187. This is below the national average. In Greater Sydney, the median income was $60,817 and the average was $83,003. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $52,230 (median) and $63,342 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%. According to 2021 Census figures, Lawson's household income ranks at the 34th percentile. Family income is at the 35th percentile, and personal income is at the 36th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates in Lawson, with 32.2% of residents (861 people). This aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 30.9%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Lawson, with only 82.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 36th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

Lawson is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Lawson's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 94.3% houses and 5.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lawson was at 37.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.0% and rented ones at 18.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawson was $1,849, lower than Sydney metro's $2,427. The median weekly rent figure in Lawson was $387, compared to Sydney metro's $470. 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 lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 33.4%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 33.7% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA4 region average of 23.9%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 11.0% and certificates make up 23.8%.

Educational participation is high at 27.3%, including 8.4% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Lawson has 29 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 20 different routes, collectively providing 905 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good with residents typically located 278 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using cars at a rate of 87%, while 6% use trains. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 40.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 129 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 31 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Lawson is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Lawson faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population, which consists of around 1,336 people.

This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney, with a national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.9 and 9.3% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 62.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.4% of residents aged 65 and over, which totals around 572 people, higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 showed low cultural diversity, with 81.9% born in Australia, 91.5% being citizens, and 93.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 39.5%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.8%), Australian (26.4%), and Scottish (9.3%). Welsh (1.1%) and French (0.9%) were notably overrepresented, while Dutch (1.8%) was also higher than the regional average.

Lawson hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

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 (8.9%). This concentration of the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post the 2021 Census, the proportion of Lawson's population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 4.8% to 7.3%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 17.6% to 16.4%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 14.2% to 13.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Lawson's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 45 people, reaching 284 from 195. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 79% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to decrease in number.