Canterbury (North) - Ashbury

Population growth drivers in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's population is approximately 12,689 as of November 2025. This shows an increase of 690 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,999 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,497 in June 2024 and an additional 135 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,187 persons per square kilometer, placing it among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, outperforming the SA3 area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, a population increase of just below the median of national areas is expected, with an expansion of 1,028 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 6.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has averaged approximately 33 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 166 homes approved during this period. No dwelling approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. On average, for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, 2.4 new residents were gained annually, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $389,000, which is below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing choices for buyers. This financial year has seen $8.2 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney and national averages, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury shows lower construction activity per person, placing it among the 6th percentile of areas assessed nationally. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, driving interest in existing homes. The recent construction trend comprises 10% detached houses and 90% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 46% houses. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences.

With around 3303 people per dwelling approval, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury reflects a highly mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 836 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 36 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Canterbury Local Centre Redevelopment, Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Earlwood Town Centre Speed Limit Reduction, and Campsie Private Hospital. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 4.2% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 3.7% over the past year.

In June 2025, 7,134 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Sydney's 4.2%, and workforce participation similar to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Education & training is particularly specialized in the area, with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 6.6% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

The predominantly residential area offers limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 3.7%, while labour force grew by 4.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment during this period. In NSW, as of Nov-25, employment contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3% in May-25. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 2022 shows that income in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury SA2 is higher than average nationally. The median income is $54,084 and the average income stands at $70,657. In contrast, Greater Sydney's median income is $56,994 with an average of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $60,904 (median) and $79,567 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury cluster around the 71st percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 32.9% of locals (4,174 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, aligning with the regional trend where this cohort represents 30.9%. Notably, 31.5% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting prosperity that drives local economic activity. High housing costs consume 16.9% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 70th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Canterbury (North) - Ashbury, as per the latest Census evaluation, 46.3% of dwellings were houses while 53.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This differs from Sydney metro's figures which showed 33.5% houses and 66.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury stood at 31.4%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 31.8% and rented dwellings making up 36.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,400, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,436. The median weekly rent figure in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury was recorded at $480, slightly higher than Sydney metro's $465. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 71.3% of all households, including 32.0% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 23.1% and group households comprising 5.6%. The median household size is 2.5 people, matching the Greater Sydney average.

The educational profile of Canterbury (North) - Ashbury exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury shows significantly higher levels than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 43.6% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 32.2% in NSW. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.3%. Vocational pathways account for 24.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 13.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 6.6% pursuing secondary education.

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

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has 56 active public transport stops. These are served by 34 different bus routes that together facilitate 6,718 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 148 meters.

There are approximately 959 daily trips across all routes, equating to about 119 weekly trips per individual stop.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis shows Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages. Private health cover rate is high at approximately 55%, compared to Greater Sydney's 57.3%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are most common, affecting 6.8% and 6.1% respectively. 74.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 77.0% in Greater Sydney. The area has 16.0% residents aged 65 and over (2,030 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 14.5%. Seniors' health outcomes align with the general population's profile.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Canterbury North-Ashbury has high cultural diversity, with 43.7% of its population born overseas and 45.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Canterbury North-Ashbury, comprising 49.7% of its population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 5.6% versus 6.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (17.1%), Australian (14.9%), and English (14.5%). Greek, Lebanese, and Spanish ethnicities are also overrepresented in Canterbury North-Ashbury compared to the regional averages.

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has a median age of 37, matching Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and remaining comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is strongly represented at 18.1%, compared to Greater Sydney's figure, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.7%. Between 2021 and the present, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.1% to 12.0%, whereas the 5-14 age group has declined from 10.1% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's age structure. Notably, the 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 101%, reaching 631 people from a starting point of 314. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 68% of projected growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 15-24 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.