Ashfield - South

Population growth drivers in Ashfield - South are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Ashfield - South's population is approximately 13,240 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 994 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,246. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 13,056 in June 2025 and 57 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,274 persons per square kilometer, placing Ashfield - South among the top 10% nationally. The area's 8.1% growth rate exceeds both its SA4 region (6.6%) and state averages, indicating it is a growth leader. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where data is not available, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ashfield - South is projected to have an above median population growth, increasing by 1,884 persons from the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 12.8% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Ashfield - South among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Ashfield - South averaged approximately 101 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 507 homes approved during this period and an additional 5 in FY26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed was around 1 over these five years, indicating that new supply has been keeping pace with or exceeding demand. The average construction value for new homes was $401,000.

In the current financial year, there have been $6.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield - South records 65.0% more construction activity per person. Recent construction trends show that 4.0% of new developments are standalone homes, while 96.0% consist of townhouses or apartments. This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This trend represents a notable change from the area's existing housing composition, which is currently 30.0% houses. With around 135 people per dwelling approval, Ashfield - South exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to add approximately 1,700 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Ashfield - South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Cardinal Freeman Final Release Development - Wattle Building, NSW School Infrastructure Program - Inner West, Our Fairer Future Plan, and 379-381 Liverpool Road Residential Development. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment drivers in Ashfield - South are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Ashfield - South has an educated workforce with 6.0% unemployment as of December 2025. It has 7,080 residents employed, exceeding Greater Sydney's rate by 1.8%. Workforce participation is lower at 64.2%.

Half of residents work from home, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment sectors are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Ashfield - South has a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, construction is under-represented at 5.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Between December 2024 to December 2025, labour force decreased by 1.9% and employment declined by 2.4%, raising unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.2%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashfield - South's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 7.1% in five years and 14.5% in ten years, though this is an illustrative extrapolation not accounting for localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Ashfield - South SA2 has an above national average income. The median income is $58,101 and the average income stands at $72,760. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of a median income of $60,817 and an average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,097 (median) and $80,269 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Ashfield - South cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 31.8% of the population (4,210 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 30.9% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 18.9% of income, placing disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally and resulting in an area SEIFA income ranking of the 8th decile.

Ashfield - South features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Ashfield - South, as per the latest Census, consisted of 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In contrast, Sydney metro had a higher proportion of houses at 55.9%, with 44.1% being other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashfield - South stood at 26.9%, lower than the Sydney metro average. Mortgaged dwellings made up 25.2%, and rented dwellings accounted for 48.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Ashfield - South was $2,352, below the Sydney metro average of $2,427. The median weekly rent figure was $470, matching the Sydney metro average but significantly higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Ashfield - South's mortgage repayments were considerably higher than the Australian average of $1,863.

Ashfield - South features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 61.6% of all households, including 24.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for 38.4%, comprising 30.3% lone person households and 8.0% group households. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Ashfield - South shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Ashfield-South significantly surpasses broader benchmarks. As of 2016, 48.3% of residents aged 15+ held university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 31.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational pathways accounted for 21.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.6% and certificates at 11.2%.

Educational participation was notably high, with 28.0% of residents enrolled in formal education as of 2016. This included 9.2% in tertiary education, 6.1% in primary education, and 4.9% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Ashfield - South has 101 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 45 different routes, providing a total of 9,817 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 118 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 53%, followed by trains at 29% and buses at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 50% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,402 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 97 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Ashfield - South's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Ashfield South's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts.

Private health cover rate is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~7,334 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.5 and 6.4% of residents respectively. 71.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 17.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,352 people), higher than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Ashfield - South is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Ashfield-South is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 51.2 percent of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 50.9 percent born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ashfield-South, comprising 40.0 percent of people. However, Buddhism stands out as overrepresented, making up 7.1 percent compared to Greater Sydney's average of 4.1 percent.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Chinese (19.5%), English (15.5%), and Other (14.5%). Notably, Lebanese (2.2%) is slightly overrepresented compared to the regional average of 2.6 percent, while Spanish (0.8%) and Korean (1.1%) show minor divergences from their respective regional averages.

Ashfield - South's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Ashfield - South has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 22.2%, compared to Greater Sydney, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 7.2%. This concentration in the 25-34 bracket is notably higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 11.5% to 13.1% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 10.9% to 9.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ashfield - South's age structure. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 39%, adding 548 people and reaching a total of 1,949 from the current figure of 1,400. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 66% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 15-24 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.