Mawson Lakes

Population growth drivers in Mawson Lakes are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of Mawson Lakes is estimated at around 14,832, reflecting an increase of 1,038 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population was estimated at 14,816 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, with an additional 21 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this figure. This level of population results in a density ratio of 2,407 persons per square kilometer, placing Mawson Lakes in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth of 7.5% since the 2021 Census exceeded that of the SA3 area at 4.0%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 80.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving this growth. AreaSearch adopts 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, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Mawson Lakes is expected to grow by 2,274 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 15.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Mawson Lakes has recorded around 8 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 44 homes were approved, with a further 9 approved so far in FY-26. This results in an average of 15.9 people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these years.

The demand significantly outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost value of $310,000. In FY-26, $37.0 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Mawson Lakes has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. However, construction activity has intensified recently. Nationally, this activity is also lower than average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

Recent construction comprises 33.0% standalone homes and 67.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 67.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 1340 people per dwelling approval, Mawson Lakes reflects a highly mature market. Looking ahead, AreaSearch quarterly estimates project Mawson Lakes to grow by 2,274 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Mawson Lakes has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects that may impact the area. Notable ones are Mawson Lakes Technology Precinct Expansion, Base Mawson Lakes, Montague Farm Estate, and The Lakeside Project. The following list details those likely to be 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.

The exceptional employment performance in Mawson Lakes places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Mawson Lakes has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 1.8% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. There were 9,130 residents employed at that time, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, lower than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation was higher at 75.6%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.4%. Census responses showed that 10.8% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. Public administration & safety had particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Construction employed only 7.2% of local workers, below Greater Adelaide's 8.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 1.4%, alongside labour force growth of 1.4%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 2.1%. In contrast, Greater Adelaide recorded employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a fall in unemployment to 3.8%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mawson Lakes's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Mawson Lakes' median taxpayer income was $53,872, with an average of $61,850 in financial year 2023. These figures are based on postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch and are below the national averages of $54,808 (median) and $66,852 (average). By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $58,613 and average income $67,293, accounting for an 8.8% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Mawson Lakes cluster around the 65th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that 39.0% of individuals (5,784 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, reflecting broader area patterns where 31.8% fall within this range. High housing costs consume 15.7% of income in the suburb. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 62nd percentile nationally, with the area's SEIFA income ranking placing it in the 6th decile.

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

Mawson Lakes' dwelling structures in 2016 Census showed 66.9% houses and 33.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other'). Adelaide metro had 75.2% houses and 24.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mawson Lakes was 17.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.8% and rented at 39.3%. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $1,659, above Adelaide's average of $1,562. Median weekly rent was $360 compared to Adelaide's $320. Nationally, Mawson Lakes' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were less at $375.

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

Family households constitute 69.8% of all households, including 34.3% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.2%, with lone person households at 23.7% and group households comprising 6.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Mawson Lakes shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Mawson Lakes is notably high, with 38.2% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses the broader benchmarks of 17.4% for SA3 area and 19.8% for SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 23.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.6%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 28.3% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (17.8%).

Educational participation is high, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in tertiary education, 9.9% in primary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Mawson Lakes has 60 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 33 different routes, together facilitating 2,957 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 213 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this predominantly residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 86% of residents, while buses are utilized by 9%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 10.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 422 trips per day, translating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mawson Lakes is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Mawson Lakes shows superior health outcomes according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

Prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 51% (~7,632 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is relatively low. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 7.1 and 6.7% of residents respectively. 77.7% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 10.1% (1,498 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 19.3% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Mawson Lakes has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.5% of its population born overseas and 43.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mawson Lakes, making up 36.6% of people residing there. However, the most notable overrepresentation is seen in the 'Other' category, which comprises 4.3% of the population compared to Greater Adelaide's average of 1.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (20.4%), Other (18.1%), and Australian (17.0%). These percentages differ from the regional averages: English is lower (27.8%), Other is higher (9.7%), and Australian is lower (22.8%). Notably, Vietnamese (4.3%) and Serbian (0.8%) are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively. Polish representation in Mawson Lakes matches the regional average at 1.0%.

Mawson Lakes's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Mawson Lakes has a median age of 33 years, which is younger than Greater Adelaide's median age of 39 and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up 20.3% of Mawson Lakes' population, compared to Greater Adelaide's percentage, while the 75-84 cohort comprises 2.6%. This 25-34 concentration is higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has increased from 5.4% to 6.6% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 12.5% to 11.5%. By 2041, forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Mawson Lakes. The 25-34 age group is projected to increase by 432 people (14%), growing from 3,010 to 3,443. Meanwhile, the 0-4 cohort is expected to grow modestly by 9%, adding 74 people.