Lyons (ACT)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for Lyons, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Lyons's population is estimated at around 3,332 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 61 people (1.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,271 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,273 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,474 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 77.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected in Lyons, with the suburb expected to increase by 271 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 6.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Lyons recorded approximately 9 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 46 homes were approved, with none yet in FY-26.

On average, 0 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating supply meets or exceeds demand and supports potential population growth while offering greater buyer choice. The average construction value of new homes is $269,000, below regional norms, reflecting more affordable housing options. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Lyons has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person. This limited supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Nationally, development activity is also lower, indicating a mature market with possible development constraints.

New development in Lyons consists of approximately 57.0% detached houses and 43.0% townhouses or apartments, offering options across different price points from family homes to more affordable compact living. With around 467 people per dwelling approval, Lyons shows a developed market. By 2041, Lyons is expected to grow by approximately 212 residents (AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate). Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Woden Experiment Stage 2 - Public Realm & Active Travel Upgrades, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), and CIT Woden Campus. 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 conditions in Lyons demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Lyons has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 3.1% as of June 2025, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) 3.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.7%, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. There were 1,886 residents in work while workforce participation was 66.9%, slightly below ACT's 69.6%. Key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Lyons has a particular specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services employ only 8.3% of local workers, below ACT's 11.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 3.7% while labour force increased by 1.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.9% with a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Lyons. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Lyons's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Lyons's median income among taxpayers was $59,200 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $73,935 during the same period. This compares to figures for Australian Capital Territory's of $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. As of September 2025, current estimates project median income to be approximately $67,251 and average income to reach around $83,990, based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings at the 85th percentile nationally were $1,097 weekly. Income brackets indicate that 30.9% of residents (1,029 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the surrounding region where 34.3% occupy this bracket. A substantial presence is represented by higher earners, with 32.7% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 15.2% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 71st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Lyons, as per the latest Census evaluation, 51.7% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 48.3% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lyons stood at 27.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.1% and rented ones at 45.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,383, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,167. The median weekly rent in Lyons was $360, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $440. Nationally, Lyons' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 61.2% of all households, including 26.2% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.8%, with lone person households at 35.1% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.4.

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

In Lyons, educational attainment exceeds national averages significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 51.4% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: bachelor degrees lead at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 11.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.2% in primary, 7.1% in tertiary, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education. Lyons Early Childhood School serves the local area, enrolling 99 students and demonstrating significant socio-educational advantages (ICSEA: 1129). The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (3.0 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 18.4).

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

Lyons has 17 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by a mix of buses along 8 different routes, collectively facilitating 1,899 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 214 meters from the nearest transport stop.

On average, there are 271 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 111 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Lyons is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Lyons demonstrates above-average health outcomes with low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages. However, older, at-risk cohorts have a higher prevalence of these conditions.

The rate of private health cover is very high in Lyons, approximately 56% of the total population (around 1,879 people), which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 68.1%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in Lyons, impacting 8.1 and 7.4% of residents respectively. 70.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.1% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (613 people), requiring more attention than the broader population.

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

Lyons has a high level of cultural diversity, with 36.8% of its population born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Lyons, making up 36.2% of people there, while Buddhism comprises 6.7%, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 3.3%. The top three ancestry groups in Lyons are English (23.2%), Australian (21.0%), and Other (17.3%).

Notably, French (0.8%) and Polish (1.0%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively. Additionally, Sri Lankan ethnicity is also notably higher at 0.7% in Lyons than the regional average of 0.4%.

Lyons's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Lyons's median age is 37 years, slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligned with Australia's national average of 38 years. The percentage of people aged 85 and above in Lyons is 4.1%, higher than in Australian Capital Territory, while the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 is 9.6%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 55 to 64 has grown from 9.0% to 9.9%. Conversely, the percentage of people aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 19.0% to 16.5%, and the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 has dropped from 11.0% to 9.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Lyons. The number of people aged 65 to 74 is projected to increase by 103 (44%), from 233 to 337. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 53% of total population growth, reflecting Lyons's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 35 to 44 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.