Median house price
—
No data available
ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council
Lawson, 2617
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,919
Growth (1 yr)
+0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+13.8%
Median age
28
Median income
$2,492/wk
Employment rate
78.7%
Languages at home
54%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Urdu, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Heritage area
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
In Unincorporated ACT, Lawson is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The community skews younger, with family-friendly schooling within easy reach. Most local households sit in a multicultural mix, with overseas-born residents and languages other than English common at home.
Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Reported crime has been falling recently. The built character feels settled, with heritage streetscapes lending the area a sense of history.
Desirability lands around average here: softer growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Lawson snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
2,919
+0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#19
among Metro Canberra · Growth area
Safety
39th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
45th
percentile in ACT
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
79th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 52.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 1840th in Australia
- State rank
- 83rd in ACT
- Peer rank
- #19 among Metro Canberra · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #83 among Metro Canberra suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
2,919(June 2025)
+0.2% annual · +13.8% over 5 years · 45th percentile in ACT
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.2%
- 5-year growth
- +13.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- +354
- Growth rank in ACT
- 45th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~9,100), extrapolated at +25.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,739
- Median age
- 28
- Median household income / week
- $2,492
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 52 of 1,036
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 78.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 194 / 623 / 170
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 42
- Against the person
- 7
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 14.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 391 residents
- State safety percentile
- 38.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -66%
Most common offence types
- Other Offences6
- Property Damage6
- Sexual Assault3
- Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)18
- Assault - Fv2
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly) — ACT Policing / dataACT · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,082
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 79th
School list
- University of Canberra High School KaleenSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1056 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 571 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Giralang Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1070 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 268 students · Top SEA quarter 32% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Maribyrnong Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 483 students · Top SEA quarter 43% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1094 · 83th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 171 students · Top SEA quarter 37% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
230 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 12 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 18/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.19
Sport & outdoors(8)
- Jumbuck Crescent Pedestrian ParklandPark
- Park (3)
- Reservoir HillPark
- Rouseabout Street Pedestrian ParklandPark
- Bellbird Loop Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
- Wanderlight Avenue Community PlaygroundPlayground
Transport(12)
12 bus stops
Other(9)
- Bench (29)
- Bicycle Parking (6)
- Drinking water
- Garden (20)
- Golden Sun Moth Life CycleInformation
- Parking (143)
- Parking Space (8)
- Public Bookcase
- Shelter
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Jumbuck Crescent Pedestrian ParklandPark
- Reservoir HillPark
- Rouseabout Street Pedestrian ParklandPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 31
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- University of Canberra Hospital (1.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 24
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 8.2
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 169 mm · ~21 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 12° / 1°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).
4 planning-related records
2025· 2 proposals
September 2025
- SUBCLAWSON · BELCONNENActive
August 2025
- SUBCLAWSON · BELCONNENActive
2024· 1 proposal
April 2024
- SUBCLAWSON · BELCONNENCompleted
2020· 1 proposal
March 2020
- SUBCLAWSON · BELCONNENCompleted
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Active & completed development applications — ACT Planning · 2020–2026 · Updated
Heritage
16 heritage places
- Aboriginal Places in the District of BelconnenLawson Site 123 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal RecordingsLawson Site 11 PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsLawson Site 204 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsLawson PAD 34 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsL01 PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsAAP4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsLawson Site 194 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsL02 PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsLawson Site 1 PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
- Aboriginal RecordingsL11 PAD4 - Aboriginal Place or Object (not registered but protected under Heritage Act 2004)
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Canberra
- Member of Parliament
- Alicia PAYNE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 102,942
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 23.6%Labor 76.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.4 km away).
Coalition 21.5%Labor 78.5%
2.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +6.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Giralang (Canberra)Labor 75.6% · Coalition 24.4% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Kaleen SouthLabor 78.9% · Coalition 21.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Belconnen (Canberra)Labor 82.1% · Coalition 17.9% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- BruceLabor 80.5% · Coalition 19.5% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- KaleenLabor 73.9% · Coalition 26.1% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Unincorporated ACT Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.