Lawson vs Mckellar

Lawson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 43 in McKellar. In Lawson, about half of households rent. In McKellar, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in McKellar: a median of $1.1 million, against $985,000 in Lawson, though rent is higher in Lawson. Lawson is closer to the city centre: 10.3 km, against 11.8 km. On these figures, Lawson tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while McKellar suits couples.

Lawson and McKellar are similar in population size but differ notably in character and affordability. Lawson skews younger (median age 28 versus 43) and offers better rental yield at 5.1% compared to McKellar's 3.5%, though weekly rent is higher at $548 versus $438. McKellar has a higher median household income ($139,724 versus $129,584) and median house price ($1,106,879 versus $917,500), while Lawson scores better on liveability (66 versus 58) and sits slightly closer to the CBD. Both suburbs are equally safe from bushfire and flood risk, making the choice largely about whether you prioritise Lawson's younger demographic and rental returns or McKellar's established, higher-income character.

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

McKellar

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 20%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 41%)

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 houses ($985,000 vs $1,100,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

McKellar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($438/wk vs $548/wk)
  • But Lawson has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 19%)

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

Commuting to the city

McKellar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 47/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

McKellar

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 47/100)
  • But Lawson has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 6%)

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 -0.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lawson Mckellar
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.

Lawson Mckellar
Walkability 47 / 60
Lawson — Walkability: 47/100 Mckellar — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 61 / 63
Lawson — Safety: 61/100 Mckellar — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lawson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mckellar — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 35 / 56
Lawson — Low flood risk: 35/100 Mckellar — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

McKellar skews older (43 vs 28); Lawson rents higher ($548/wk vs $438/wk).

Lawson Mckellar
Population 2,739 2,740
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1750.7% -0.2%
Median age 28 43
Median household income $129,584/yr $139,724/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $548/wk
+20% vs other
 $438/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lawson Mckellar
0-4 5.8% / 4.7%
Lawson — 0-4: 5.8% Mckellar — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 7.2% / 11.7%
Lawson — 5-14: 7.2% Mckellar — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 3.2% / 5.8%
Lawson — 15-19: 3.2% Mckellar — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 17.7% / 6.1%
Lawson — 20-24: 17.7% Mckellar — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 37.8% / 11.9%
Lawson — 25-34: 37.8% Mckellar — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 16.0% / 11.8%
Lawson — 35-44: 16.0% Mckellar — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 6.4% / 12.8%
Lawson — 45-54: 6.4% Mckellar — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 3.3% / 15.1%
Lawson — 55-64: 3.3% Mckellar — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 1.9% / 13.5%
Lawson — 65-74: 1.9% Mckellar — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 0.4% / 4.8%
Lawson — 75-84: 0.4% Mckellar — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.1% / 1.6%
Lawson — 85+: 0.1% Mckellar — 85+: 1.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Mckellar 54.3% couple families
Mckellar — Couple Families: 54.3% Mckellar — Lone Person: 26.2% Mckellar — Group Household: 4.3% Mckellar — One Parent Families: 15.2% Mckellar — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lawson 46.6% renting
Lawson — Owned Outright: 8.0% Lawson — Mortgage: 45.4% Lawson — Renting: 46.6%
Mckellar 19.1% renting
Mckellar — Owned Outright: 42.9% Mckellar — Mortgage: 38.0% Mckellar — Renting: 19.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lawson Mckellar
Bachelor Degree 27.7% / 19.6%
Lawson — Bachelor Degree: 27.7% Mckellar — Bachelor Degree: 19.6%
Postgraduate Degree 18.1% / 9.0%
Lawson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1% Mckellar — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 10.2%
Lawson — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% Mckellar — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 7.2%
Lawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Mckellar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 4.2%
Lawson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Mckellar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

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.

Lawson Mckellar
China 13.8% / 2.6%
Lawson — China: 13.8% Mckellar — China: 2.6%
India 8.0% / 2.1%
Lawson — India: 8.0% Mckellar — India: 2.1%
England 1.5% / 2.4%
Lawson — England: 1.5% Mckellar — England: 2.4%
Vietnam 2.0% / 1.5%
Lawson — Vietnam: 2.0% Mckellar — Vietnam: 1.5%
Nepal 2.9% / —
Lawson — Nepal: 2.9% Mckellar — Nepal: not among its largest
Pakistan 1.8% / —
Lawson — Pakistan: 1.8% Mckellar — Pakistan: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.5%
Lawson — Italy: not among its largest Mckellar — Italy: 1.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lawson 19.6% houses
Lawson — Houses: 19.6% Lawson — Townhouses: 62.9% Lawson — Flats / Apartments: 17.5%
Mckellar 94.0% houses
Mckellar — Houses: 94.0% Mckellar — Townhouses: 6.0% Mckellar — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lawson Mckellar
Median house price $985,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $652,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 7 sales
 20 days
from 17 sales

Development activity

Lawson Mckellar
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.

Lawson Mckellar
Houses 5.4%
$720/wk on $695K
 3.9%
$680/wk on $899K
Units 8.5%
$700/wk on $429K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Lawson Mckellar
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of ACT Higher than 78% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 30% of ACT Higher than 47% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 30% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 44% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of ACT Higher than 28% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 100% of ACT —

Liveability

McKellar is more walkable (60 vs 47); Lawson scores higher overall (63 vs 58).

Lawson Mckellar
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lawson carries more flood risk (65 vs 44).

Lawson Mckellar
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
39/100
 Low
37/100
Flood Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
44/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Lawson Mckellar
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
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, 2.3 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 3.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 8.0% 2.5%

Amenities in the suburb

Lawson Mckellar
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 1
Childcare 0 2
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Lawson Mckellar
Walkability score 47/100 60/100
Distance to Canberra 10.3 km 11.8 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 19 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 47.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Lawson Mckellar
Car (driver) 75.7% / 72.2%
Lawson — Car (driver): 75.7% Mckellar — Car (driver): 72.2%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 13.7%
Lawson — Worked from Home: 9.2% Mckellar — Worked from Home: 13.7%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 7.5%
Lawson — Car (passenger): 5.8% Mckellar — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Bus 6.6% / 4.7%
Lawson — Bus: 6.6% Mckellar — Bus: 4.7%
Bicycle 1.1% / 1.4%
Lawson — Bicycle: 1.1% Mckellar — Bicycle: 1.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.4%
Lawson — Walked Only: 1.3% Mckellar — Walked Only: 0.4%

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

Setting

Lawson Mckellar
Elevation 588 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 598 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Lawson Mckellar
Connectivity score 100/100 52/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,088 premises
 12%
1,065 premises

Climate

Lawson Mckellar
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)

Lawson Mckellar
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lawson

Inner Multicultural Professionals Quiet River Students Townhouses

Mckellar

Middle-Ring Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lawson

Lawson vs Belconnen Lawson vs Kaleen Lawson vs Bruce Lawson vs Giralang

Other comparisons with Mckellar

Mckellar vs Belconnen Mckellar vs Belconnen Mckellar vs Evatt Mckellar vs Giralang
Full data on Lawson Full data on Mckellar
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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