Giralang vs Lawson

Lawson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 38 in Giralang. In Giralang, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Lawson, about half of households rent. Lawson is closer to the city centre: 10.3 km, against 13.4 km. On these figures, Giralang tends to suit families with children and couples, while Lawson suits renters, young adults, and share households.

Giralang and Lawson are both affluent ACT suburbs with similar household incomes and socio-economic standing. Lawson is closer to the CBD at 10.3 km versus Giralang's 13.4 km, and has a notably higher liveability score of 44 compared to 35. Giralang offers better walkability (59 versus 47) and lower rental costs at $460 per week against Lawson's $548, though Lawson's rental yield on houses is stronger at 5.1% versus 4.1%. Giralang skews older with a median age of 38 years, while Lawson is younger at 28 years.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Giralang

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 20%)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 41%)
  • But Lawson carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 55/100)

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

First-home buyers

Lawson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($652,500 vs $735,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Giralang has cheaper rent ($460/wk vs $548/wk)
  • Lawson has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Giralang is more walkable (59/100 vs 47/100)
  • Lawson sits closer to the CBD (10.3 km vs 13.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Giralang has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 2%)
  • Lawson has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Lawson

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (1750.7% vs 1.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.4% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Giralang 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.

Giralang 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.

Giralang Lawson
Walkability 59 / 47
Giralang — Walkability: 59/100 Lawson — Walkability: 47/100
Safety 45 / 61
Giralang — Safety: 45/100 Lawson — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 81 / 100
Giralang — Low fire risk: 81/100 Lawson — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 51 / 35
Giralang — Low flood risk: 51/100 Lawson — Low flood risk: 35/100

Demographics

Giralang skews older (38 vs 28); Lawson rents higher ($548/wk vs $460/wk).

Giralang Lawson
Population 3,372
+19% vs other
 2,739
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.7% +1750.7%
Median age 38 28
Median household income $127,244/yr $129,584/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $460/wk $548/wk
+19% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Giralang Lawson
0-4 5.9% / 5.8%
Giralang — 0-4: 5.9% Lawson — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 14.8% / 7.2%
Giralang — 5-14: 14.8% Lawson — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 5.1% / 3.2%
Giralang — 15-19: 5.1% Lawson — 15-19: 3.2%
20-24 4.3% / 17.7%
Giralang — 20-24: 4.3% Lawson — 20-24: 17.7%
25-34 14.1% / 37.8%
Giralang — 25-34: 14.1% Lawson — 25-34: 37.8%
35-44 16.3% / 16.0%
Giralang — 35-44: 16.3% Lawson — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 11.4% / 6.4%
Giralang — 45-54: 11.4% Lawson — 45-54: 6.4%
55-64 10.3% / 3.3%
Giralang — 55-64: 10.3% Lawson — 55-64: 3.3%
65-74 12.5% / 1.9%
Giralang — 65-74: 12.5% Lawson — 65-74: 1.9%
75-84 4.3% / 0.4%
Giralang — 75-84: 4.3% Lawson — 75-84: 0.4%
85+ 0.8% / 0.1%
Giralang — 85+: 0.8% Lawson — 85+: 0.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Giralang 51.9% couple families
Giralang — Couple Families: 51.9% Giralang — Lone Person: 26.1% Giralang — Group Household: 4.1% Giralang — One Parent Families: 16.0% Giralang — Other Families: 1.9%
Lawson 31.5% couple families
Lawson — Couple Families: 31.5% Lawson — Lone Person: 28.7% Lawson — Group Household: 25.6% Lawson — One Parent Families: 9.6% Lawson — Other Families: 4.6%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Giralang 19.9% renting
Giralang — Owned Outright: 38.6% Giralang — Mortgage: 41.5% Giralang — Renting: 19.9%
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.

Giralang Lawson
Bachelor Degree 17.5% / 27.7%
Giralang — Bachelor Degree: 17.5% Lawson — Bachelor Degree: 27.7%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 18.1%
Giralang — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Lawson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 6.1%
Giralang — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Lawson — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 5.9%
Giralang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Lawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 3.2%
Giralang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% 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.

Giralang Lawson
China 1.9% / 13.8%
Giralang — China: 1.9% Lawson — China: 13.8%
India 0.9% / 8.0%
Giralang — India: 0.9% Lawson — India: 8.0%
England 2.4% / 1.5%
Giralang — England: 2.4% Lawson — England: 1.5%
Nepal — / 2.9%
Giralang — Nepal: not among its largest Lawson — Nepal: 2.9%
Vietnam 0.7% / 2.0%
Giralang — Vietnam: 0.7% Lawson — Vietnam: 2.0%
Pakistan — / 1.8%
Giralang — Pakistan: not among its largest Lawson — Pakistan: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Giralang — New Zealand: 1.3% Lawson — New Zealand: not among its largest
Italy 0.9% / —
Giralang — Italy: 0.9% Lawson — Italy: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Giralang 93.2% houses
Giralang — Houses: 93.2% Giralang — Townhouses: 5.3% Giralang — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Lawson 19.6% houses
Lawson — Houses: 19.6% Lawson — Townhouses: 62.9% Lawson — Flats / Apartments: 17.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Giralang Lawson
Median house price $920,000 $985,000
Median unit price $735,000 $652,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 44 sales
 25 days
from 7 sales

Development activity

Giralang 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.

Giralang Lawson
Houses 4.0%
$700/wk on $910K
 5.4%
$720/wk on $695K
Units — 8.5%
$700/wk on $429K

Ranking within ACT

Giralang Lawson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 57% of ACT Higher than 61% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 43% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 29% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 27% of ACT Higher than 86% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of ACT Higher than 96% of ACT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 100% of ACT

Liveability

Lawson scores higher overall (63 vs 47); Giralang is more walkable (59 vs 47).

Giralang Lawson
Grade C B
Score 47/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Giralang carries more bushfire risk (19 vs 0); Giralang carries more crime risk (55 vs 39).

Giralang Lawson
Bushfire Low
19/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
 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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Giralang Lawson
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 3.9 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 8.0%

Schools in Giralang

  • Giralang Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Lawson

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

Amenities in the suburb

Giralang Lawson
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 3 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Giralang sits further from the CBD (13.4 km vs 10.3 km).

Giralang Lawson
Walkability score 59/100 47/100
Distance to Canberra 13.4 km
+23% vs other
 10.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 17 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 87.8
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.

Giralang Lawson
Car (driver) 73.8% / 75.7%
Giralang — Car (driver): 73.8% Lawson — Car (driver): 75.7%
Worked from Home 13.8% / 9.2%
Giralang — Worked from Home: 13.8% Lawson — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.8%
Giralang — Car (passenger): 5.0% Lawson — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Bus 4.0% / 6.6%
Giralang — Bus: 4.0% Lawson — Bus: 6.6%
Bicycle 2.8% / 1.1%
Giralang — Bicycle: 2.8% Lawson — Bicycle: 1.1%
Walked Only 0.3% / 1.3%
Giralang — Walked Only: 0.3% Lawson — Walked Only: 1.3%

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

Setting

Giralang Lawson
Elevation 601 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 588 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Giralang Lawson
Connectivity score 47/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
1,366 premises
 100%
1,088 premises

Climate

Giralang 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)

Giralang 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

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

Federal electorate

Giralang Lawson
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Giralang

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

Lawson

Inner Multicultural Professionals Quiet River Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Giralang

Giralang vs Belconnen Giralang vs Kaleen Giralang vs Nicholls Giralang vs Crace Giralang vs McKellar

Other comparisons with Lawson

Lawson vs Belconnen Lawson vs Kaleen Lawson vs Bruce Lawson vs McKellar
Full data on Giralang 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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