Mawson Lakes
Population growth is the standout feature of Mawson Lakes: 13,794 residents live across 6.16 sq km, a density of 2,238.4 people per sq km. The median age is 33, seven years below the national figure, while 43.5% of residents were born overseas, 21.9 percentage points above national levels. Household income sits at the 72.9th percentile. Compared with nearby Salisbury, Mawson Lakes presents a more concentrated urban setting, with 15.0% apartments and 18.0% semi-detached homes supporting that form.
Population
13,794
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,940/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
55
Median House
$1.0M
First quarter 2026
That latest level is higher than the earlier median because prices rose across the observed year. Housing is not limited to detached stock: 66.9% of homes are separate houses, 18.0% semi-detached and 15.0% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.0%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 28.8%. Mortgage costs are not flagged as stressed, at 19.7% of household income, but buyers should still allow for the $1,659 monthly repayment estimate.
For Buyers
That latest level is higher than the earlier median because prices rose across the observed year. Housing is not limited to detached stock: 66.9% of homes are separate houses, 18.0% semi-detached and 15.0% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.0%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 28.8%. Mortgage costs are not flagged as stressed, at 19.7% of household income, but buyers should still allow for the $1,659 monthly repayment estimate.
For Investors
Investor conditions are supported by a sizeable rental base and active turnover. Renting accounts for 38.9% of occupied dwellings, compared with 17.5% owned outright, and the typical weekly rent is $360. Vacancy is 6.1%, giving tenants more choice than in a tightly constrained market, although the figure still warrants checking by property type. Development activity reached 59 applications in 12 months, which can add amenity and competing supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
349
Last 12 Months
55
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mawson Lakes
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Mawson Lakes School
Demographics
Mawson Lakes combines a young current age profile with clear signs of future ageing. The median age is 33, seven years below the national figure, and 49.4% of adults hold a university qualification, 19.3 percentage points above the national rate. Overseas-born residents account for 43.5%, 21.9 points higher than nationally, with English, Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese among the largest reported ancestries at 3,538, 1,273, 1,056 and 746 people. Punjabi and Mandarin are the leading listed languages at 326 and 319 speakers. Couples with children form 48.4% of families, compared with 35.6% couples without children, helping explain the 2.6-person average household size.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
66.9%
Houses
18.0%
Townhouse
15.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Household tenure sits between ownership and renting: 41.9% of dwellings are mortgaged, 38.9% rented and 17.5% owned outright, so mortgage tenure is far more common than outright ownership. The stock is weighted to 3-bedroom homes at 48.0%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 28.8%. Compared with a detached-only market, the 66.9% separate-house share sits alongside 18.0% semi-detached and 15.0% apartment housing, creating more choice but also different owners corporation and maintenance considerations.
Mortgage / mo
$1,659
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$360
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$915
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
327
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.4%
Couples with children
35.6%
Couples, no children
14.4%
Single parent
3,623
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employment industry at 20.4% and 1,128 workers, followed by public administration at 11.1% and 616, education at 10.9% and 606, professional and technical services at 9.1% and 503, and manufacturing at 7.7% and 425. The occupational base is led by professionals at 2,030, community and personal services at 1,039, clerical and administration at 1,037, managers at 1,013 and trades at 828. Participation is 73.3% and unemployment is 5.4%. Compared with IEO and IRSAD deciles of 7, IER sits at 5 while IRSD is 7, suggesting economic resources are lower than education, occupation and broader advantage indicators.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
8,227
Unemployed
448
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
33.5%
Participation
73.3%
Employed
7,779
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.4%
Postgraduate
16.3%
Born Overseas
43.5%
Dwellings
5,025
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 75.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 6.2% using public transport, while 11.3% work from home and 2.4% walk or cycle. Local schooling includes 1 government primary school, Mawson Lakes School; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can affect access. Recorded crime totals 894 incidents, or 64.8 per 1,000 residents, so recent street-level patterns are worth reviewing before choosing a home. An IRSAD decile of 7 and an IRSD decile of 7 place local social conditions above the national midpoint, while the 2,238.4 people-per-sq-km density can support nearby daily services but may mean less private space than lower-density areas.
Drive
75.1%
Public Transport
6.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
11.3%
Population Forecast
+2.64%/yr
(+396 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth remains strong but its shape is changing. The forecast annual trend is 2.64%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 29.0% over 10 years. Compared with the earlier profile, the trajectory is labelled Aging: the senior share has risen 3.7 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 1.0 point and the working share 2.8 points. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 22 at the Early signs stage, while the shift measure records 15 and is labelled Not gentrifying. That combination suggests continued demand from migration alongside a maturing resident base, rather than a purely youthful expansion.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+470
Net Internal / yr
-335
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal outflow -335/yr, Strong overseas inflow +470/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
894
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
64.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mawson Lakes compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mawson Lakes a good suburb to live in?
Mawson Lakes suits households seeking a planned, dense setting with a median age of 33, 75.1% car-driver travel and an IRSAD decile of 7. Its 6.16 sq km footprint is compact, while local schooling includes 1 government primary school.
What schools are in Mawson Lakes?
Local schooling includes 1 government primary school, Mawson Lakes School. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before signing, since school access can change across nearby streets.
Is Mawson Lakes safe?
Recorded crime was 894 incidents, equal to 64.8 incidents per 1,000 residents. That figure is a starting point rather than a guarantee for every street, so review recent local patterns, lighting, parking and travel routes before choosing a home.
How is Mawson Lakes's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 29.0% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 2.64% and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is also labelled Aging, with the senior share up 3.7 percentage points, so growth is not exclusively youth-led.
What languages are spoken in Mawson Lakes?
English, Punjabi and Mandarin are prominent language communities, with 326 Punjabi speakers and 319 Mandarin speakers recorded. Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese ancestries number 1,273, 1,056 and 746 respectively, supporting a multilingual local mix.
What development is happening in Mawson Lakes?
Development activity reached 59 applications over 12 months, ranging from accepted patio and verandah works to performance-assessed advertising upgrades. For buyers, this indicates ongoing property change, but each address should be checked for nearby construction, traffic and future amenity impacts.
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), SA Department for Housing and Urban Development (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Mawson Lakes on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map