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 was around 12,978 as of November 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 732 people from the 2021 Census count of 12,246. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 12,873 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 6,150 persons per square kilometer, placing Ashfield - South in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, ending in November 2025, Ashfield - South has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%, outperforming its SA4 region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during this period.

AreaSearch's projections for Ashfield - South are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ashfield - South is projected to have an above median population growth and an expansion of 2,202 persons, reflecting a total increase of 16.2% over the 17-year period from November 2025 to December 2041.

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

Ashfield - South has seen approximately 101 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 507 homes. As of FY26, three approvals have been recorded. On average, one new resident per year has accompanied each new home constructed between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand. The average construction value of these new homes is $734,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment.

In FY26, $6.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield - South has 65.0% more construction activity per person. The new building activity predominantly consists of attached dwellings (96.0%), with detached houses making up only 4.0%. This shift towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, offering greater choice while potentially decreasing the availability of developable sites. The area has an approximate population density of 135 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ashfield - South is projected to gain 2,097 residents by 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

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 identified 27 projects likely affecting the area. Notable projects include the NSW Health Infrastructure Program - Inner West, Cardinal Freeman Final Release Development - Wattle Building, NSW School Infrastructure Program - Inner West, 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 performance in Ashfield - South has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Ashfield - South has an educated workforce with the technology sector prominent. The unemployment rate was 5.9% in June 2025, with estimated employment growth of 3.9% over the past year.

As of that date, 7,223 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.7% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was on par with Greater Sydney at 60.0%. Leading employment industries included health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area had a notable concentration in accommodation & food services, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

However, construction had limited presence with 5.9% employment compared to the regional average of 8.6%. Many residents commuted elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 3.9%, while labour force grew by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points in Ashfield - South. In Greater Sydney, employment grew by 2.6%, labour force expanded by 2.9%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. State-level data for NSW as of Nov-25 showed employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashfield - South's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that median income in Ashfield - South SA2 is $52,222 and average income stands at $68,614. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $56,994 and average income of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $58,807 (median) and $77,266 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Ashfield - South cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 31.8% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. In this area, housing costs consume 18.9% of income, placing disposable income at the 57th percentile nationally and giving the area an SEIFA income ranking in the 8th decile.

Ashfield - South features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Ashfield - South's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 30.0% houses and 70.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Sydney metro's 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashfield - South stood at 26.9%, similar to Sydney metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.2% and rented ones at 48.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,352, below the Sydney metro average of $2,436. The median weekly rent figure was $470, compared to Sydney metro's $465. Nationally, Ashfield - South's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,352 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were 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 account for 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 constitute the remaining 38.4%, with lone person households at 30.3% and group households comprising 8.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.5.

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 exceeds broader benchmarks, with 48.3% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. This substantial educational advantage positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common 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 years and over – 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

Ashfield - South has 66 operational public transport stops. These include a mix of train and bus services. There are 39 unique routes serving these stops, collectively facilitating 8,929 weekly passenger trips.

Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 119 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is 1,275 trips daily across all routes, translating to approximately 135 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ashfield - South's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Ashfield - South residents show relatively positive health outcomes. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 54% (~6,969 people) have private health cover, compared to 57.3% across Greater Sydney. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.5% and 6.4% of residents respectively. Around 71.8% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.0% across Greater Sydney. The area has 18.3% (2,376 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is higher than the 14.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges that require more attention than those for 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 has a population where 51.2% speak a language other than English at home and 50.9% were born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 40.0% of the population. Buddhism is more prevalent in Ashfield-South at 7.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's 6.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (19.5%), English (15.5%), and Other (14.5%). Notably, Lebanese (2.2%) and Spanish (0.8%) are overrepresented while Korean is underrepresented at 1.1% compared to regional figures.

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

The median age in Ashfield - South is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield - South has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (21.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is above the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.5% to 12.5%, while the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 10.9% to 10.1%. By 2041, Ashfield - South's age composition is expected to change significantly. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 78%, reaching 1,417 from 794. This growth will contribute to an increase in the proportion of residents aged 65 and above, who are expected to comprise 63% of the population growth. Conversely, the number of residents aged 25-34 is projected to decrease by 156.