Lawrence vs Ashby Heights

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Ashby Heights, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Ashby Heights: a median of $855,000, against $630,000 in Lawrence, though rent is higher in Lawrence. On these figures, Lawrence tends to suit older residents and buyers on a tighter budget, while Ashby Heights suits couples.

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

Ashby Heights

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 55/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 54%)
  • But Lawrence has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Lawrence

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($395,000 vs $555,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $855,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Lawrence

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (645.9 km vs 662.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lawrence

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (33% vs 20%)
  • But Ashby Heights carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 55/100)

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

Investors

Ashby Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (25.9% vs 10.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lawrence Ashby Heights
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.

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Walkability 8 / 0
Lawrence — Walkability: 8/100 Ashby Heights — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 45 / 75
Lawrence — Safety: 45/100 Ashby Heights — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 43 / 8
Lawrence — Low fire risk: 43/100 Ashby Heights — Low fire risk: 8/100

Demographics

Lawrence has more residents (1,159 vs 292); Ashby Heights has higher household incomes ($64,116 vs $57,408).

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Population 1,159
+75% vs other
 292
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.8% +25.9%
Median age 54 55
Median household income $57,408/yr $64,116/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+6% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lawrence Ashby Heights
0-4 5.9% / 4.8%
Lawrence — 0-4: 5.9% Ashby Heights — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.7% / 8.2%
Lawrence — 5-14: 10.7% Ashby Heights — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 3.9% / 5.8%
Lawrence — 15-19: 3.9% Ashby Heights — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 2.8% / 3.4%
Lawrence — 20-24: 2.8% Ashby Heights — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 8.3% / 4.1%
Lawrence — 25-34: 8.3% Ashby Heights — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 8.0% / 9.2%
Lawrence — 35-44: 8.0% Ashby Heights — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 11.0% / 13.0%
Lawrence — 45-54: 11.0% Ashby Heights — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 16.0% / 27.4%
Lawrence — 55-64: 16.0% Ashby Heights — 55-64: 27.4%
65-74 19.3% / 17.8%
Lawrence — 65-74: 19.3% Ashby Heights — 65-74: 17.8%
75-84 11.7% / 1.7%
Lawrence — 75-84: 11.7% Ashby Heights — 75-84: 1.7%
85+ 2.2% / 1.0%
Lawrence — 85+: 2.2% Ashby Heights — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lawrence 38.2% couple families
Lawrence — Couple Families: 38.2% Lawrence — Lone Person: 38.6% Lawrence — One Parent Families: 16.2% Lawrence — Group Household: 5.9% Lawrence — Other Families: 1.1%
Ashby Heights 50.0% couple families
Ashby Heights — Couple Families: 50.0% Ashby Heights — Lone Person: 31.7% Ashby Heights — One Parent Families: 13.3% Ashby Heights — Group Household: 5.0% Ashby Heights — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lawrence 9.4% renting
Lawrence — Owned Outright: 55.7% Lawrence — Mortgage: 34.9% Lawrence — Renting: 9.4%
Ashby Heights 6.3% renting
Ashby Heights — Owned Outright: 45.9% Ashby Heights — Mortgage: 47.7% Ashby Heights — Renting: 6.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Certificate III & IV 19.6% / 18.2%
Lawrence — Certificate III & IV: 19.6% Ashby Heights — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 8.5% / 10.6%
Lawrence — Bachelor Degree: 8.5% Ashby Heights — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 9.9%
Lawrence — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Ashby Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 4.5%
Lawrence — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Ashby Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / —
Lawrence — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Ashby Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Lawrence Ashby Heights
England 3.0% / 3.4%
Lawrence — England: 3.0% Ashby Heights — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.4% / 3.1%
Lawrence — New Zealand: 1.4% Ashby Heights — New Zealand: 3.1%
Germany 0.4% / 1.0%
Lawrence — Germany: 0.4% Ashby Heights — Germany: 1.0%
South Africa — / 1.0%
Lawrence — South Africa: not among its largest Ashby Heights — South Africa: 1.0%
Zimbabwe 0.3% / —
Lawrence — Zimbabwe: 0.3% Ashby Heights — Zimbabwe: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Lawrence — Netherlands: 0.3% Ashby Heights — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lawrence 99.1% houses
Lawrence — Houses: 99.1% Lawrence — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Ashby Heights 95.6% houses
Ashby Heights — Houses: 95.6% Ashby Heights — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Median house price $630,000 $855,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $395,000 $555,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 46 days
from 17 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Lawrence has more land zoned for conservation (32% vs 13%).

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Rural and farming 65% 64%
Environmental 32% 13%
Residential 2% 23%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Lawrence Ashby Heights
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lawrence Ashby Heights
House price Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Income Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Lawrence is more walkable (8 vs 0).

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Grade D —
Score 19/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Lawrence carries more crime risk (55 vs 25); Ashby Heights carries more bushfire risk (92 vs 57).

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Bushfire Moderate
57/100
 High
92/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Low
25/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Lawrence

  • Lawrence Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Ashby Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 17 6

Mobility

Ashby Heights sits further from the CBD (662.9 km vs 645.9 km).

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Walkability score 8/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 645.9 km 662.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 432 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2460
 0.2%
postcode 2463
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2460
 70
postcode 2463

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.

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Car (driver) 77.8% / 80.4%
Lawrence — Car (driver): 77.8% Ashby Heights — Car (driver): 80.4%
Worked from Home 12.5% / 11.3%
Lawrence — Worked from Home: 12.5% Ashby Heights — Worked from Home: 11.3%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 5.2%
Lawrence — Car (passenger): 3.9% Ashby Heights — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 4.8% / 3.1%
Lawrence — Walked Only: 4.8% Ashby Heights — Walked Only: 3.1%
Bus 1.0% / —
Lawrence — Bus: 1.0% Ashby Heights — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.4%).

Setting

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 139 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.9 km 9.4 km

NBN connectivity

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Connectivity score 30/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
502 premises
 0%
106 premises

Climate

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Annual rainfall 1,408 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lawrence Ashby Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lawrence

Affordable Retirees Rural

Ashby Heights

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lawrence

Lawrence vs Ashby Lawrence vs Woodford Island Lawrence vs Lower Southgate Lawrence vs Tullymorgan Lawrence vs Gurranang

Other comparisons with Ashby Heights

Ashby Heights vs Harwood Ashby Heights vs Ashby Ashby Heights vs Mororo Ashby Heights vs Tullymorgan
Full data on Lawrence Full data on Ashby Heights
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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