Belconnen vs Lawson

In Belconnen, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Lawson, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Lawson: a median of $985,000, against $602,000 in Belconnen, and rent is higher there too. Lawson is closer to the city centre: 10.3 km, against 19.5 km. On these figures, Belconnen tends to suit renters, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Lawson suits share households.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Lawson

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (20% vs 0%)
  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 90/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (41% vs 25%)
  • But Belconnen has more childcare (8 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Belconnen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($602,500 vs $985,000)
  • has cheaper units ($472,000 vs $652,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Belconnen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 47%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $548/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Lawson

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (17 min vs 42 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (10.3 km vs 19.5 km)
  • But Belconnen is more walkable (82/100 vs 47/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Belconnen

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (9% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 47/100)
  • But Lawson carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 90/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Lawson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (1750.7% vs 27.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (8.5% vs 6.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Belconnen and Lawson drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Belconnen Lawson
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Belconnen Lawson
Walkability 82 / 47
Belconnen — Walkability: 82/100 Lawson — Walkability: 47/100
Safety 10 / 61
Belconnen — Safety: 10/100 Lawson — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Belconnen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lawson — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 24 / 35
Belconnen — Low flood risk: 24/100 Lawson — Low flood risk: 35/100

Demographics

Belconnen has more residents (8,502 vs 2,739); Lawson has higher household incomes ($129,584 vs $92,352).

Belconnen Lawson
Population 8,502
+68% vs other
 2,739
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +27.7% +1750.7%
Median age 30 28
Median household income $92,352/yr $129,584/yr
+40% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $548/wk
+27% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Lawson
0-4 4.5% / 5.8%
Belconnen — 0-4: 4.5% Lawson — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 4.2% / 7.2%
Belconnen — 5-14: 4.2% Lawson — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 2.7% / 3.2%
Belconnen — 15-19: 2.7% Lawson — 15-19: 3.2%
20-24 15.6% / 17.7%
Belconnen — 20-24: 15.6% Lawson — 20-24: 17.7%
25-34 37.8% / 37.8%
Belconnen — 25-34: 37.8% Lawson — 25-34: 37.8%
35-44 14.2% / 16.0%
Belconnen — 35-44: 14.2% Lawson — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 7.0% / 6.4%
Belconnen — 45-54: 7.0% Lawson — 45-54: 6.4%
55-64 4.8% / 3.3%
Belconnen — 55-64: 4.8% Lawson — 55-64: 3.3%
65-74 3.8% / 1.9%
Belconnen — 65-74: 3.8% Lawson — 65-74: 1.9%
75-84 3.2% / 0.4%
Belconnen — 75-84: 3.2% Lawson — 75-84: 0.4%
85+ 2.2% / 0.1%
Belconnen — 85+: 2.2% Lawson — 85+: 0.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 58.2% lone person
Belconnen — Lone Person: 58.2% Belconnen — Couple Families: 15.8% Belconnen — Group Household: 14.4% Belconnen — One Parent Families: 9.1% Belconnen — Other Families: 2.5%
Lawson 28.7% lone person
Lawson — Lone Person: 28.7% Lawson — Couple Families: 31.5% Lawson — Group Household: 25.6% Lawson — One Parent Families: 9.6% Lawson — Other Families: 4.6%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 66.2% renting
Belconnen — Owned Outright: 11.8% Belconnen — Mortgage: 22.0% Belconnen — Renting: 66.2%
Lawson 46.6% renting
Lawson — Owned Outright: 8.0% Lawson — Mortgage: 45.4% Lawson — Renting: 46.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Lawson
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 27.7%
Belconnen — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Lawson — Bachelor Degree: 27.7%
Postgraduate Degree 18.7% / 18.1%
Belconnen — Postgraduate Degree: 18.7% Lawson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 5.9%
Belconnen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Lawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 6.1%
Belconnen — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Lawson — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.2%
Belconnen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Lawson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Belconnen Lawson
China 11.1% / 13.8%
Belconnen — China: 11.1% Lawson — China: 13.8%
India 6.2% / 8.0%
Belconnen — India: 6.2% Lawson — India: 8.0%
Nepal 5.7% / 2.9%
Belconnen — Nepal: 5.7% Lawson — Nepal: 2.9%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.6%
Belconnen — Philippines: 2.4% Lawson — Philippines: 1.6%
England 2.0% / 1.5%
Belconnen — England: 2.0% Lawson — England: 1.5%
Vietnam 1.4% / 2.0%
Belconnen — Vietnam: 1.4% Lawson — Vietnam: 2.0%
Pakistan 1.0% / 1.8%
Belconnen — Pakistan: 1.0% Lawson — Pakistan: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 74.8% flats / apartments
Belconnen — Flats / Apartments: 74.8% Belconnen — Townhouses: 24.7% Belconnen — Houses: 0.5%
Lawson 17.5% flats / apartments
Lawson — Flats / Apartments: 17.5% Lawson — Townhouses: 62.9% Lawson — Houses: 19.6%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Belconnen Lawson
Median house price $602,500 $985,000
Median unit price $472,000 $652,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 20 sales
 25 days
from 7 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Belconnen Lawson
1 bed $372K / $380K
Belconnen — 1 bed: $372K (102 sales) Lawson — 1 bed: $380K (6 sales)

102 vs 6 sales

2 bed $502K / $565K
Belconnen — 2 bed: $502K (158 sales) Lawson — 2 bed: $565K (19 sales)

158 vs 19 sales

3 bed $650K / $720K
Belconnen — 3 bed: $650K (31 sales) Lawson — 3 bed: $720K (17 sales)

31 vs 17 sales

Development activity

Belconnen Lawson
New dwellings approved 3,750
across Unincorporated ACT
same for both
Approvals change year on year -48%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Belconnen Lawson
Houses 5.0%
$590/wk on $619K
 5.4%
$720/wk on $695K
Units 6.1%
$550/wk on $470K
 8.5%
$700/wk on $429K

Ranking within ACT

Belconnen Lawson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of ACT Higher than 61% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 31% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 86% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 96% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of ACT Higher than 100% of ACT

Liveability

Lawson scores higher overall (63 vs 35); Belconnen is more walkable (82 vs 47).

Belconnen Lawson
Grade C B
Score 35/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Belconnen carries more crime risk (90 vs 39); Belconnen carries more flood risk (76 vs 65).

Belconnen Lawson
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 Low
39/100
Flood High
76/100
 Moderate
65/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Belconnen Lawson
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 2.4 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.6% 8.0%

Schools in Belconnen

  • University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Government · Secondary

Schools in Lawson

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Belconnen Lawson
Supermarkets 18 0
Cafes & restaurants 87 0
Parks & reserves 12 3
Childcare 8 0
GPs 9 0
Pharmacies 5 0
Police stations 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Beaches 6 0
Waterways 1 5

Mobility

Belconnen sits further from the CBD (19.5 km vs 10.3 km).

Belconnen Lawson
Walkability score 82/100 47/100
Distance to Canberra 19.5 km
+47% vs other
 10.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 17 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 455.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 47.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2617
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2617
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Belconnen Lawson
Car (driver) 52.8% / 75.7%
Belconnen — Car (driver): 52.8% Lawson — Car (driver): 75.7%
Bus 18.2% / 6.6%
Belconnen — Bus: 18.2% Lawson — Bus: 6.6%
Worked from Home 9.7% / 9.2%
Belconnen — Worked from Home: 9.7% Lawson — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Walked Only 11.9% / 1.3%
Belconnen — Walked Only: 11.9% Lawson — Walked Only: 1.3%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.8%
Belconnen — Car (passenger): 5.8% Lawson — Car (passenger): 5.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.7%).

Setting

Belconnen Lawson
Elevation 575 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 588 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Belconnen Lawson
Connectivity score 69/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
5,370 premises
 100%
1,088 premises

Climate

Belconnen Lawson
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Belconnen Lawson
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.41 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Belconnen Lawson
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Belconnen Lawson
Division Fenner Canberra
Member Andrew Leigh Alicia Payne
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Belconnen Lawson
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Belconnen

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses

Lawson

Inner Multicultural Professionals Quiet River Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belconnen

Belconnen vs Bruce Belconnen vs Evatt Belconnen vs Florey Belconnen vs Macquarie Belconnen vs Page Belconnen vs Weetangera

Other comparisons with Lawson

Lawson vs Kaleen Lawson vs Bruce Lawson vs Giralang Lawson vs McKellar
Full data on Belconnen Full data on Lawson
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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