Lyneham
Despite a median age of 35, a full 5.0 years below the national figure, Lyneham pairs a youthful population with one of the country's strongest education profiles: 63.7% of residents hold university qualifications, 33.6 points above national. The suburb scores decile 10 on the IEO index for education and occupation, yet only decile 3 on IER for economic resources, a split driven by the 49.7% renter share that holds down measured household wealth. Public Admin employs 34.2% of the workforce, reflecting Canberra's government economy, and the $555,000 median house price keeps it affordable relative to inner suburbs in larger capitals. Household income sits in the 78.9th percentile.
Population
5,703
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,084/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$555K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $555,000 median house price makes Lyneham accessible by capital-city standards, and the affordability ratio improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 35.4% in 2021. Buyers should note the stock is not house-dominated: separate houses are only 27.0% of dwellings, while apartments make up 36.9% and semi-detached homes 36.1%, so a freestanding house competes for limited supply. Two-bedroom dwellings lead at 35.2% and three-bedroom at 32.0%, with 4-plus bedroom homes just 13.2%, pointing to a market built more for couples and small households than large families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes in the 78.9th percentile comfortably carry the modest loan sizes.
For Buyers
The $555,000 median house price makes Lyneham accessible by capital-city standards, and the affordability ratio improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 35.4% in 2021. Buyers should note the stock is not house-dominated: separate houses are only 27.0% of dwellings, while apartments make up 36.9% and semi-detached homes 36.1%, so a freestanding house competes for limited supply. Two-bedroom dwellings lead at 35.2% and three-bedroom at 32.0%, with 4-plus bedroom homes just 13.2%, pointing to a market built more for couples and small households than large families. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes in the 78.9th percentile comfortably carry the modest loan sizes.
For Investors
Renters make up 49.7% of households, a deep tenant pool that is unusually large for a detached-friendly suburb and is anchored by the Public Admin workforce that draws 34.2% of local workers. Weekly rent of $425 against the $555,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than premium inner suburbs of larger capitals where yields fall toward 1%. The 9.5% vacancy rate signals some softness, partly because apartments are 36.9% of stock, but rent grew 21.4% over the period. Demand support comes mainly from overseas migration, which adds 87 residents a year against just 19 from internal moves. Development is light at 11 applications in 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations and lease variations rather than new supply, so existing rental stock faces little near-term competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lyneham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Brindabella Christian College
K-12 · 929 students
Lyneham Primary School
K-6 · 498 students
Lyneham High School
7-10 · 1034 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 runs 5.0 years below the national figure, a youthful profile reinforced by the working-share trajectory and the city's student and public-service draw. University qualifications reach 63.7%, which is 33.6 points above national, among the highest you will find outside premium harbour suburbs. Overseas-born residents total 34.7%, 13.1 points above national, with ancestry led by English (1,818), Irish (749) and Scottish (604), and Chinese (415) a notable fifth. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (90), Nepali (37) and Hindi (27). Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with the couple-heavy mix: 40.9% of families are couples with no children, outnumbering the 1,189 couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
27.0%
Houses
36.1%
Townhouse
36.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts heavily to renting at 49.7%, against 26.6% with a mortgage and 23.7% owning outright, an unusual split for the ACT that reflects the student and early-career public-service population. The stock is split almost evenly between apartments at 36.9%, semi-detached homes at 36.1% and separate houses at only 27.0%, which keeps detached-house prices firm through scarcity even as the overall $555,000 median stays affordable. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 35.2% and three-bedroom 32.0%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are just 13.2%. Rent-to-income sits at 20.4% and mortgage-to-income at 19.9%, both well below the 30% stress threshold, a comfort that follows from household incomes in the 78.9th percentile meeting moderate housing costs.
Mortgage / mo
$1,800
Rent / wk
$425
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,200
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.5%
Unoccupied
262
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.9%
Couples, no children
3,422
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is dominated by government, with Public Admin at 34.2% (920 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 14.8% (399) and Education at 13.8% (371), then Healthcare at 9.5% and Hospitality at 4.9%. By occupation, Professionals (1,268) and Managers (606) form the core, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 68.8%, while participation reads 65.9%. The standout anomaly is the IER economic-resources score at decile 3, far below the decile 9 IRSAD and decile 10 IEO, because the 49.7% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even though incomes sit in the 78.9th percentile.
Unemployment
4.2%
Labour Force
3,800
Unemployed
158
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.8%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
65.9%
Employed
3,204
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.7%
Postgraduate
26.7%
Born Overseas
34.7%
Dwellings
2,499
Transport to Work
Active and public transport are well used: 17.5% walk or cycle and 6.0% take public transport, while 69.8% drive, a car reliance below what an outer suburb would show given the compact 5.48 km2 footprint at 1,041 residents per km2. The suburb earns decile 9 on IRSAD, the second-highest advantage tier nationally, and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, meaning few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 24.0% and only 7.3% (401 people) need daily assistance. No schools are recorded inside the Lyneham boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the area's central location and strong 63.7% university-qualified base.
Drive
69.8%
Public Transport
6.0%
Walk / Cycle
17.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.31%/yr
(+79 people/yr)
EstablishedLyneham is growing steadily rather than spectacularly: annual population growth registers 1.31%, adding about 79 residents a year, while the population rose 27.0% over the decade to roughly 6,013 in 2025. Medium forecasts continue the trend to 6,494 by 2031. The primary driver is overseas migration at 87 a year, well above the 19 net internal arrivals, so demand leans on international flows. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 9, despite the early-signs shift trajectory, meaning the suburb is expanding without displacing its existing renter base. Affordability improved from 39.7% in 2011 to 35.4% in 2021, a rare combination of population growth and easing cost pressure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+87
Net Internal / yr
+19
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +28% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lyneham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lyneham a good suburb to live in?
Lyneham scores decile 9 on IRSAD and decile 10 on the IEO education index, with household income in the 78.9th percentile and 63.7% of residents university qualified, 33.6 points above national. The youthful median age of 35 and affordable $555,000 median house price make it appealing, though renters make up 49.7% of households.
What is the median house price in Lyneham?
The median house price is $555,000, affordable by capital-city standards. Weekly rent averages $425 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,800, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold thanks to incomes in the 78.9th percentile.
What schools are in Lyneham?
No schools are recorded inside the Lyneham boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 63.7%, which is 33.6 points above the national figure.
Is Lyneham safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Lyneham in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 9 on IRSAD, both high tiers, and only 7.3% of its residents need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Lyneham good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $425 against the $555,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.0%, stronger than inner suburbs of larger capitals. Renters are 49.7% of households and overseas migration adds 87 residents a year, though the 9.5% vacancy rate signals some softness in the apartment-heavy stock.
How is Lyneham's population changing?
Population growth is 1.31% annually, adding about 79 residents a year, with a 27.0% rise over the past decade to roughly 6,013 in 2025. Medium forecasts continue the trend to 6,494 by 2031, driven mainly by overseas migration of 87 a year against just 19 net internal arrivals.
What languages are spoken in Lyneham?
About 34.7% of residents were born overseas, 13.1 points above the national figure. English is dominant, with Mandarin (90 speakers), Nepali (37), Hindi (27) and Cantonese (24) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a varied international resident mix.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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