Moving to Lawson ACT 2617
What the official numbers say about living in Lawson — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $548 a week, against a median household income of $2,492 a week.
About 53% of homes are owner-occupied and 47% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the townhouse.
Who you'll be living with
Around 62% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: China, India, Nepal; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Lawson sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 9% work from home.
Nearest train station: Canberra, 11.4 km south-east.
Nearest light rail stop: Swinden Street, 4.4 km south-east.
Nearest bus interchange: Belconnen Community Bus Station, 2.2 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Canberra Airport, 12.7 km south-east.
The Canberra CBD is roughly 7 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 30 schools · 85 cafes & restaurants · 12 supermarkets · 18 parks · 6 beaches — see them all on the Lawson profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: UC Kaleen High School 1.2 km · Maribyrnong Primary School 1.4 km · Giralang Primary School 1.7 km · Radford College 1.7 km · University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra 1.8 km · St Michaels Primary School 1.9 km · Kaleen Primary School 2.2 km · Miles Franklin Primary School 2.8 km
Groceries: SupaExpress 1.3 km · UC Supermarket 1.3 km · Coles 1.5 km · Giralang IGA & Cellarbrations 1.8 km · Woolworths Metro 2 km · The Source Bulk Foods 2.5 km · Woolworths 2.5 km · Coles 2.5 km
Parks and reserves: Rouseabout Street Pedestrian Parkland 100 m · Reservoir Hill 200 m · Jumbuck Crescent Pedestrian Parkland 300 m · Townsend Place Pedestrian Parkland 1.3 km · Lake Ginninderra Dog Park 1.5 km · Fern Hill Park 1.5 km · John Knight Memorial Park 1.6 km · Ginninderra Peninsula District Park 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Lawson, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Red Wattlebird · Pied Currawong · Crimson Rosella · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Magpie-lark.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Lawson, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawson here | 2,739 | — | 10/10 | 7% |
| Bruce | 7,520 | — | 10/10 | 26% |
| Kaleen | 7,672 | — | 9/10 | 10% |
| Mckellar | 2,740 | — | 10/10 | 5% |
| Giralang | 3,372 | — | 10/10 | 12% |
| Belconnen | 8,502 | — | 9/10 | 12% |
| Evatt | 5,531 | — | 10/10 | 12% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Unincorporated ACT — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Canberra — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2617 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Lawson profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $548 a week, and about 47% of homes here are rented.
It sits about 7 km from the Canberra CBD in a straight line. Local government is Unincorporated ACT council, and the federal seat is Canberra.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Lawson vs Bruce · Lawson vs Kaleen.
Nearby guides: Bruce · Kaleen · Mckellar · Giralang · Belconnen · Evatt.
Keep an eye on Lawson
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