Lyons (NT)

Lyons has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census Lyons's population is estimated at around 2,465 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 246 people (11.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,219 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,439, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,541 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Lyons's 11.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.4%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb of Lyons was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 55.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth across all areas in the years post-2032, AreaSearch is applying growth rates by age cohort to each area, as provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Anticipating future population dynamics, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation is forecast, with the suburb of Lyons expected to increase by 711 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting recording a gain of 34.0% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Lyons shows around 3 dwellings receiving development approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 17 homes. So far in FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. This results in approximately 22.6 people moving to the area per dwelling built annually between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating significant demand exceeding supply. New dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost of $635,000, focusing on the premium segment with upmarket properties.

This financial year has seen $107,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Darwin, Lyons records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 10th percentile of areas assessed nationally, suggesting constrained buyer choice and interest in existing properties. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached houses, maintaining Lyons' traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (82.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures.

With around 1697 people per dwelling approval, Lyons reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate Lyons will gain 837 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Lyons has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified two projects that are expected to impact the area significantly due to changes in local infrastructure and planning initiatives. These key projects include Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, Edgeview Court Water Main Replacement, Lee Point Master-planned Urban Development, and Casuarina Square Redevelopment. The following list provides details on those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

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

Lyons has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 0.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year. This is based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 1,502 residents were in work, with an unemployment rate of 2.8%, below Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%. Workforce participation was high at 85.1% compared to Greater Darwin's 76.0%. According to Census responses, only 5.1% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Lyons has a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level. In contrast, construction employs only 5.0% of local workers, below Greater Darwin's 9.2%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 2.6%, and labour force increased by 2.6%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. By comparison, Greater Darwin recorded employment growth of 1.9% and labour force growth of 1.9%, with a marginal rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Lyons. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Lyons's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Lyons has a high national income level according to recent ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Lyons is $80,349 and the average income stands at $93,574. This compares to figures for Greater Darwin's of $66,956 and $77,199 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $87,130 (median) and $101,472 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Lyons rank highly nationally, between the 95th and 96th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 38.3% of locals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 36.7%. Higher earners make up a substantial presence in Lyons, with 48.5% exceeding $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 88.7% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power within the community. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Lyons, as per the latest Census evaluation, 82.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 18.0% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This is compared to Darwin metro's 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lyons stood at 10.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.7% and rented ones at 62.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, exceeding Darwin metro's average of $2,100. The median weekly rent in Lyons was $265, lower than Darwin metro's $385. Nationally, Lyons' mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $265 versus the national figure of $375.

Lyons features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 88.6% of all households, including 57.3% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 5.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 11.4%, with lone person households at 8.4% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 3.3 people, which is larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate of 35.6% among residents aged 15+ exceeds the Northern Territory average of 27.3% and the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 22.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 13.0% and certificates make up 23.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 40.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.7% in primary education, 10.1% in secondary education, and 7.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows six active stops operating in Lyons. These stops are served by eighteen routes, providing a total of 959 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 170 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 91%, with 3% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.1% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 137 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 159 weekly trips per individual stop.

Lyons's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Lyons. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (1,568 people), compared to 57.8% across Greater Darwin and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and asthma, impacting 6.0 and 5.4% of residents respectively. 82.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Lyons has 5.2% of residents aged 65 and over (128 people), which is lower than the 10.8% in Greater Darwin. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Lyons was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Lyons was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.1% of its population born overseas and 29.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Lyons, comprising 45.0% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Lyons at 5.1%, compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin.

The top three ancestry groups in Lyons are Australian (23.1%), English (19.1%), and Other (13.6%). Some ethnic groups have notable differences in representation: Greek (4.9% vs regional 2.3%), Sri Lankan (1.1% vs 0.3%), and Filipino (3.7% vs 3.8%) are notably higher in Lyons compared to the Greater Darwin region.

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

Lyons has a median age of 31, which is lower than Greater Darwin's figure of 34 and significantly younger than the Australian median of 38. The age profile indicates that individuals aged 5-14 years are particularly prominent, making up 18.8% of the population, compared to Greater Darwin's figure. This concentration is notably higher than the national average of 12.1%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 45 to 54 age group has increased from 12.7% to 13.9% of the population, while the 0 to 4 cohort has decreased from 10.1% to 8.1%. By 2041, Lyons is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition, with the 45 to 54 age cohort expected to rise substantially by 197 people (58%), from 342 to 540 individuals.