Lyons vs Waramanga

In Lyons, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Waramanga, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Lyons is closer to the city centre: 11.9 km, against 15.4 km. On these figures, Lyons tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Waramanga suits families with children.

Lyons and Waramanga are both established ACT suburbs with distinct trade-offs. Waramanga has a higher median household income at $116,844 versus Lyons' $107,224, and scores better on liveability (49 vs 40) and walkability (77 vs 62). Lyons is closer to the CBD at 11.9 km and has lower flood risk (0 vs 27), though it carries higher crime risk at 46 compared to Waramanga's 32. House prices favour Lyons at $1,003,500, but Waramanga's unit market is significantly pricier at $690,000 versus $326,000—a key consideration if you're looking at apartments rather than houses.

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

Waramanga

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 52%)
  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 46/100)

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

First-home buyers

Lyons

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($326,000 vs $690,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lyons

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Lyons sits closer to the CBD (11.9 km vs 15.4 km)
  • Waramanga is more walkable (77/100 vs 62/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Waramanga

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 46/100)
  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Lyons has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 23%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lyons Waramanga
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.

Lyons Waramanga
Walkability 62 / 77
Lyons — Walkability: 62/100 Waramanga — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 54 / 68
Lyons — Safety: 54/100 Waramanga — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 1 / 1
Lyons — Low fire risk: 1/100 Waramanga — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 100 / 73
Lyons — Low flood risk: 100/100 Waramanga — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Waramanga skews older (38 vs 36).

Lyons Waramanga
Population 3,271
+15% vs other
 2,785
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.0% +5.9%
Median age 36 38
Median household income $107,224/yr $116,844/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $379/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lyons Waramanga
0-4 5.7% / 6.6%
Lyons — 0-4: 5.7% Waramanga — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 11.0% / 14.1%
Lyons — 5-14: 11.0% Waramanga — 5-14: 14.1%
15-19 4.7% / 5.5%
Lyons — 15-19: 4.7% Waramanga — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.5% / 4.7%
Lyons — 20-24: 6.5% Waramanga — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 19.0% / 12.9%
Lyons — 25-34: 19.0% Waramanga — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 14.6% / 15.1%
Lyons — 35-44: 14.6% Waramanga — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 12.5% / 12.9%
Lyons — 45-54: 12.5% Waramanga — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 9.0% / 9.6%
Lyons — 55-64: 9.0% Waramanga — 55-64: 9.6%
65-74 6.5% / 9.4%
Lyons — 65-74: 6.5% Waramanga — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 7.3% / 7.2%
Lyons — 75-84: 7.3% Waramanga — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 3.3% / 1.8%
Lyons — 85+: 3.3% Waramanga — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lyons 46.9% lone person
Lyons — Lone Person: 46.9% Lyons — Couple Families: 34.7% Lyons — One Parent Families: 11.4% Lyons — Group Household: 5.2% Lyons — Other Families: 1.8%
Waramanga 36.7% lone person
Waramanga — Lone Person: 36.7% Waramanga — Couple Families: 44.0% Waramanga — One Parent Families: 14.0% Waramanga — Group Household: 3.8% Waramanga — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lyons 45.3% renting
Lyons — Owned Outright: 27.8% Lyons — Mortgage: 27.0% Lyons — Renting: 45.3%
Waramanga 28.1% renting
Waramanga — Owned Outright: 32.9% Waramanga — Mortgage: 38.9% Waramanga — Renting: 28.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lyons Waramanga
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 18.7%
Lyons — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Waramanga — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Postgraduate Degree 14.6% / 9.6%
Lyons — Postgraduate Degree: 14.6% Waramanga — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.8%
Lyons — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Waramanga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 9.5%
Lyons — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Waramanga — Certificate III & IV: 9.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.3% / 4.0%
Lyons — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3% Waramanga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Lyons Waramanga
England 3.4% / 3.4%
Lyons — England: 3.4% Waramanga — England: 3.4%
Nepal 5.7% / 0.9%
Lyons — Nepal: 5.7% Waramanga — Nepal: 0.9%
India 3.3% / 1.7%
Lyons — India: 3.3% Waramanga — India: 1.7%
China 1.7% / 0.8%
Lyons — China: 1.7% Waramanga — China: 0.8%
Philippines 1.6% / 0.9%
Lyons — Philippines: 1.6% Waramanga — Philippines: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Lyons — New Zealand: 1.1% Waramanga — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy — / 0.9%
Lyons — Italy: not among its largest Waramanga — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lyons 51.8% houses
Lyons — Houses: 51.8% Lyons — Townhouses: 20.3% Lyons — Flats / Apartments: 27.9%
Waramanga 77.3% houses
Waramanga — Houses: 77.3% Waramanga — Townhouses: 19.6% Waramanga — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lyons Waramanga
Median house price $1,003,500 $929,500
Median unit price $326,000 $690,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 21 sales
 16 days
from 37 sales

House price by bedroom count

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

Lyons Waramanga
3 bed $955K / $905K
Lyons — 3 bed: $955K (15 sales) Waramanga — 3 bed: $905K (41 sales)

15 vs 41 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.01M
Lyons — 4 bed: $1.23M (13 sales) Waramanga — 4 bed: $1.01M (16 sales)

13 vs 16 sales

Development activity

Lyons Waramanga
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.

Lyons Waramanga
Houses — 4.3%
$685/wk on $820K
Units 6.9%
$550/wk on $414K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Lyons Waramanga
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 14% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 73% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 51% of ACT Higher than 78% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 52% of ACT Higher than 67% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 45% of ACT Higher than 13% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 54% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 85% of ACT —

Liveability

Waramanga is more walkable (77 vs 62); Waramanga scores higher overall (49 vs 40).

Lyons Waramanga
Grade C B
Score 40/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Waramanga carries more flood risk (27 vs 0); Lyons carries more crime risk (46 vs 32).

Lyons Waramanga
Bushfire High
99/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
32/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Lyons Waramanga
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 7.0 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.6%

Schools in Lyons

  • Lyons Early Childhood School Government · Primary

Schools in Waramanga

  • St John Vianney's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Arawang Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount Stromlo High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lyons Waramanga
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Waramanga sits further from the CBD (15.4 km vs 11.9 km).

Lyons Waramanga
Walkability score 62/100 77/100
Distance to Canberra 11.9 km 15.4 km
+29% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 55.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2606
 4.0%
postcode 2611
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 2606
 52
postcode 2611

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.

Lyons Waramanga
Car (driver) 62.5% / 74.3%
Lyons — Car (driver): 62.5% Waramanga — Car (driver): 74.3%
Worked from Home 11.1% / 11.9%
Lyons — Worked from Home: 11.1% Waramanga — Worked from Home: 11.9%
Bus 11.1% / 4.1%
Lyons — Bus: 11.1% Waramanga — Bus: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 5.8%
Lyons — Car (passenger): 6.9% Waramanga — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Walked Only 7.0% / 1.4%
Lyons — Walked Only: 7.0% Waramanga — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle 0.9% / 2.4%
Lyons — Bicycle: 0.9% Waramanga — Bicycle: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.3%).

Setting

Lyons Waramanga
Elevation 606 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 614 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Lyons Waramanga
Connectivity score 52/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
1,545 premises
 1%
1,229 premises

Climate

Lyons Waramanga
Annual rainfall 686 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lyons Waramanga
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.1 µg/m³ 11.9 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.32 pphm

Council rates

Lyons Waramanga
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Lyons Waramanga
Division Canberra Bean
Member Alicia Payne David Smith
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lyons Waramanga
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Lyons

Middle-Ring Professionals Townhouses

Waramanga

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lyons

Lyons vs Curtin Lyons vs Phillip Lyons vs Weston Lyons vs Chifley

Other comparisons with Waramanga

Waramanga vs Weston Waramanga vs Fisher Waramanga vs Chifley Waramanga vs Stirling
Full data on Lyons Full data on Waramanga
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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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