Ashfield - South

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Ashfield - South's population is around 13,216 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 970 people (7.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 12,246 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,873 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 54 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 6,263 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly sought resource. Ashfield - South's 7.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (6.5%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, an above-median population growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is projected, with the area expected to expand by 2,202 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 14.1% in total over the 17 years.

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

Ashfield - South has experienced around 101 dwellings receiving development approval each year, totalling 507 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 3 approvals have been recorded. At an average of just 1 new resident per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice and supporting potential for population growth above projections, while new homes are being built at an average value of $401,000. There have also been $6.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating the area's primarily residential nature.

Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield - South has 65.0% more construction activity (per person), offering buyers greater choice. New building activity shows 4.0% detached houses and 96.0% attached dwellings. This trend toward denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 30.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 135 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

Population forecasts indicate Ashfield - South will gain 1,859 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 26 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Cardinal Freeman Final Release Development - Wattle Building, the NSW School Infrastructure Program - Inner West, the Our Fairer Future Plan (Housing Investigation Areas), and the 379-381 Liverpool Road Residential Development, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 possesses a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector a particular standout in terms of representation, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. As of December 2025, 7,008 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.8% above Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (65.5% compared to Greater Sydney's 70.2%). Based on Census responses, a high 50.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. In contrast, construction employs just 5.9% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 8.6%. While local employment opportunities exist in the area, it appears many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on the count of Census working population to local population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.9% while employment declined by 2.4%, resulting in the unemployment rate rising by 0.4 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.2%, the labour force grew by 2.3%, and unemployment rose marginally. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Ashfield - South. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ashfield - South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised 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 FY-23 reveals that income in the Ashfield - South SA2 is higher than average nationally, with the median assessed at $58,101 while 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 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,249 (median) and $79,207 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Ashfield - South cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.8% of the community (4,202 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the area showing 30.9% in the same category. High housing costs consume 18.9% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 57th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in 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

Dwelling structure within Ashfield - South, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Ashfield - South slightly lagged that of Sydney metro, at 26.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (25.2%) or rented (48.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Sydney metro average at $2,352, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $470, compared to Sydney metro's $2,427 and $470. Nationally, Ashfield - South's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 61.6% of all households, comprising 24.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 38.4%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 8.0% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people 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, with 48.3% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 31.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (14.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational pathways account for 21.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (11.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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

Public transport analysis reveals 101 active transport stops operating within Ashfield - South, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 45 individual routes, collectively providing 9,817 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 118 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 53%, with 29% by train and 8% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 0.6 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A high 50.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 1,402 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 97 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location 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 sit 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, though higher than the national average among older cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~7,321 people). This compares to 59.9% across Greater Sydney.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.5 and 6.4% of residents, respectively, while 71.8% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents are notably healthy with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (2,470 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though ranking 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 the country, with 51.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 50.9% born overseas. The main religion in Ashfield - South is Christianity, which makes up 40.0% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 7.1% of the population, compared to 4.1% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Ashfield - South are Chinese, comprising 19.5% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 8.4%, English, comprising 15.5% of the population, and Other, comprising 14.5% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Lebanese is represented at 2.2% of Ashfield - South (vs 2.6% regionally), Spanish at 0.8% (vs 0.6%) and Korean at 1.1% (vs 1.1%).

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

The 38-year median age in Ashfield - South is close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, Ashfield - South has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (20.9%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (7.4%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 14.5% to 15.5% of the population. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has declined from 4.8% to 4.0%. By 2041, Ashfield - South is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 70% (584 people), reaching 1,417 from 832. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 66% of projected growth. On the other hand, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 cohorts.