Lawson, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Lawson ACT is 2,739 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Lawson is $1,190 per week ($61,880 per year). Median rent in Lawson is $548 per week ($2,375 per month). Lawson has a median age of 28 years, younger than the national median of 38. Lawson has a population density of 888 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Lawson is China. The most common religion is No religion (46.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawson is $2,000.

Population
2,739
Census 2021
Median income
$1,190/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$548/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
28years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Lawson vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Lawson is $1,190 a week, in line with the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 56th of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $548 a week, $98 more than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 22.0% of the median household income here, against 18.2% in the typical ACT suburb. The median resident is 28, 10 years younger than in the typical ACT suburb (38).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureLawsonTypical ACTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,190/wk$1,192/wk −0%$766/wk
Household income$2,492/wk$2,414/wk +3%$1,637/wk
Rent$548/wk$450/wk +22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,000/mo$2,154/mo −7%$1,733/mo
Median age2838 −10 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.0%18.2% +3.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Lawson, the typical ACT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Lawson Population

2,739 residents at the 2021 Census.

Lawson Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,190/wk
$61,880 per year
Ranked 447 of 14,663
Median Rent
$548/wk
$2,375 per month
Ranked 427 of 14,663
Median Age
28years
10 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,000/mo
Avg household size: 2.6 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Lawson Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,492/wk
Median rent $548/wk
Rent to income 22.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Lawson against your income

About $10,799 a month
Median rent $548/wk
Left after rent $1,944/wk
Rent share 22.0%

Lawson Schools

14
schools nearby
10
government
1089
avg ICSEA score
7,236
total students
Radford College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 2,091 students
1203
ICSEA
St Vincent's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 195 students
1117
ICSEA
Canberra High School Government
Secondary · 7-10 · 898 students
1100
ICSEA
Maribyrnong Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 483 students
1100
ICSEA
St Michael's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 171 students
1094
ICSEA
St Monica's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 412 students
1080
ICSEA
Miles Franklin Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 394 students
1077
ICSEA
Kaleen Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 400 students
1075
ICSEA
Giralang Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 268 students
1070
ICSEA
Macquarie Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 291 students
1070
ICSEA
University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Government
Secondary · 11-12 · 781 students
1066
ICSEA
University of Canberra High School Kaleen Government
Secondary · 7-10 · 571 students
1056
ICSEA
Evatt Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 281 students
1047
ICSEA
Melba Copland Secondary School Copland Campus Years 7 - 9 Government
Secondary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Lawson, with a map

Lawson Map

Lawson, Australian Capital Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Lawson, Australian Capital Territory: 35.2255°S, 149.0874°E

Lawson Schools (14)

People in Lawson

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.4% (1,409) Female 48.6% (1,332)

Population Density

888
people per km²
2,739 people · 3.1 km²

Households

2.6
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,753
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
13.8%
India
8.0%
Nepal
2.9%
Vietnam
2.0%
Pakistan
1.8%
South Korea
1.6%
Philippines
1.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
15.4%
Vietnamese
3.1%
Cantonese
3.0%
Nepali
2.9%
Hindi
2.7%
Urdu
2.0%
Korean
2.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Chinese
21.1%
English
18.3%
Australian
17.5%
Indian
9.3%
Irish
5.8%
Scottish
5.1%
Vietnamese
3.3%
German
2.2%
Filipino
2.0%
Italian
1.9%
Korean
1.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
46.0%
Catholic
12.4%
Hinduism
10.3%
Not stated
8.2%
Buddhism
5.3%
Islam
5.1%
Christian (other)
2.2%
Anglican
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.2%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
36.9% 882
Separated
2.0% 47
Divorced
3.7% 89
Widowed
0.9% 22
Never married
56.5% 1,352

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
43.2%
Couple: no children
42.3%
Couple: no children under 15
5.7%
One parent: children under 15
5.2%
One parent: no children under 15
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
19.7%
2 persons
34.7%
3 persons
23.5%
4 persons
14.6%
5 persons
4.0%
6+ persons
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Lawson

Housing Tenure

Of the 990 occupied private dwellings in Lawson at the 2021 Census, 45.8% were rented, 7.9% owned outright and 44.6% owned with a mortgage.

Owned outright
7.9% 78 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
44.6% 442 dwellings
Rented
45.8% 453 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.4% 14 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Semi-detached (2+ storey)
76.2%
Separate house
23.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.9%
2 bedrooms
27.8%
3 bedrooms
45.0%
4 bedrooms
14.6%
5 bedrooms
4.5%
6+ bedrooms
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.8%
$300-$449/mo
0.8%
$600-$799/mo
1.6%
$800-$999/mo
2.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
34.2%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
14.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
11.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.2%
1 vehicle
37.1%
2 vehicles
42.3%
3 vehicles
12.3%
4+ vehicles
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Lawson

Employment

Employed full-time
58.2% 1,241 people
Employed part-time
25.2% 537 people
Unemployed
3.0% 63 people
Not in labour force
13.6% 291 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
42.0%
Managers
14.0%
Clerical & Administrative
11.7%
Community & Personal Service
10.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
8.2%
Sales Workers
5.4%
Labourers
4.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$300-$399/wk
0.4%
$400-$499/wk
1.1%
$500-$649/wk
1.0%
$650-$799/wk
1.5%
$800-$999/wk
2.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
18.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
9.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.3%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
10.1%
$4,000+/wk
21.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.1%
$1-$149/wk
2.0%
$150-$299/wk
2.3%
$300-$399/wk
1.6%
$400-$499/wk
1.4%
$500-$649/wk
3.5%
$650-$799/wk
6.4%
$800-$999/wk
9.4%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
14.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
11.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
11.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
8.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
15.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.9%
$3,500+/wk
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.8%
Did not go to work
8.5%
Car (passenger)
5.9%
Bus
5.5%
Walked only
1.3%
Bicycle
1.1%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Other
0.5%
Truck
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%
Tram/Light Rail
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
94.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
3.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
1.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
0.4%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
45.2%
Postgraduate Degree
29.4%
Certificate III/IV
10.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
9.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.1%
Certificate I/II
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
25.8%
Society & Culture
15.7%
Information Technology
13.4%
Health
12.2%
Engineering
8.0%
Education
6.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
5.2%
Creative Arts
5.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.9%
Architecture & Building
3.6%
Agriculture & Environment
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
29.9%
Primary: Government
22.2%
Secondary: Government
11.5%
Pre-school
10.7%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
7.9%
Primary: Catholic
7.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.3%
Secondary: Catholic
4.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
91.6%
Has need for assistance
1.5%
Need for assistance not stated
6.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
183
Asthma
79
Diabetes
25
Cancer
14
Arthritis
9
Heart disease
9
Kidney disease
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
5.9% 131
Did not provide
94.1% 2,082

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.1% 314
Not a volunteer
85.9% 1,906

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.2% 27
Current ADF: Reserves
0.6% 13
Previously served
1.1% 24
Never served
97.1% 2,173

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
67.8%
1 child
13.7%
2 children
14.2%
3 children
3.4%
4 children
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1961: 1970
11
1971: 1980
20
1981: 1990
38
1991: 2000
107
2001: 2010
346
2011: 2015
339
2016
91
2017
137
2018
99
2019
93
2020
42
2021
7

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

33.5%
moved in the last year
90.2%
moved in the last 5 years
3.2%
unemployment rate (Census)
81.3%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,684
Moved from ACT
467
Moved from NSW
185
Moved: same area (SA2)
73
Moved from overseas
39
Moved from VIC
36
Moved from QLD
25
Moved from SA
11
Moved from TAS
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
25.5%
5: 14 hours
29.3%
15: 29 hours
7.6%
30+ hours
4.5%
Did not do domestic work
33.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
97.1%
Step family: no other children
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Taylor
Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $282/wk $266/wk less rent
Moncrieff
Income: $1,222/wk Rent: $470/wk $78/wk less rent
Coombs
Income: $1,358/wk Rent: $480/wk $68/wk less rent
Dickson
Income: $1,303/wk Rent: $500/wk $48/wk less rent
Throsby
Income: $1,342/wk Rent: $375/wk $173/wk less rent
Phillip
Income: $1,342/wk Rent: $440/wk $108/wk less rent
Crace
Income: $1,395/wk Rent: $460/wk $88/wk less rent
Scullin
Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $390/wk $158/wk less rent

Suburbs near Lawson

The closest suburb to Lawson is McKellar, 1.2 km away.

McKellar
1.2 km away · income $1,160/wk · rent $438/wk
Giralang
1.9 km away · income $1,143/wk · rent $460/wk
Kaleen
1.9 km away · income $1,050/wk · rent $460/wk
Belconnen
2.1 km away · income $1,009/wk · rent $430/wk
Bruce (ACT)
2.3 km away · income $1,027/wk · rent $430/wk
Evatt
2.3 km away · income $1,149/wk · rent $466/wk

Compare Lawson (ACT)

Frequently Asked Questions About Lawson

What is the population of Lawson ACT?

The population of Lawson ACT is 2,739 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 888 people per km². Lawson is ranked #2,565 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Lawson?

The median personal income in Lawson ACT is $1,190 per week, or $61,880 per year. The median household income is $2,492 per week. Family income is $2,753 per week. Lawson is ranked #447 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Lawson?

Median rent in Lawson ACT is $548 per week ($2,375 per month). Rent represents 22.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. Lawson ranks #427 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Lawson?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lawson ACT is $2,000. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Lawson?

The median age in Lawson ACT is 28 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Lawson a good suburb to live in?

Lawson is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 2,739. The median income is $1,190/wk, which is below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Canberra Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80085. All dollar figures in AUD.