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 around 12,689 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 690 people (5.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,999 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 12,497 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 135 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 4,187 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. Over the past decade, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.8% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 75.7% of overall 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, a population increase just below the median of national areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 1,028 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 6.6% in total 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 averaged approximately 33 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 166 homes approved during this period and none yet in FY26. On average, each dwelling built resulted in an increase of 2.4 new residents annually over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes was $494,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY26, $8.2 million worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury has about half the construction activity per person and ranks in the 6th percentile nationally, leading to relatively limited buyer choice and interest in existing homes. This lower-than-average national activity may indicate planning constraints and a mature market, with around 3303 people per dwelling approval. Recent construction trends show 10% detached houses and 90% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 46% houses, possibly due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. Looking ahead, AreaSearch estimates indicate Canterbury (North) - Ashbury is expected to grow by 836 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections.

Looking ahead, Canterbury (North) - Ashbury is expected to grow by 836 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 36 such projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Canterbury Local Centre Redevelopment, Sydney Metro City & Southwest, Earlwood Town Centre Speed Limit Reduction, and Campsie Private Hospital. The following list details those considered most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Canterbury North Ashbury has a highly educated workforce with the technology sector being prominent. Its unemployment rate is 4.2% as of September 2025.

There are 6919 residents employed, matching Greater Sydney's unemployment rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Canterbury North Ashbury is similar to Greater Sydney's at 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Education & training has a particularly high representation at 1.3 times the regional level, while construction shows lower representation at 6.6% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

Labour force increased by 0.2% over a 12-month period in Canterbury North Ashbury, but employment declined by 0.8%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%. State-level data from NSW to November 25 shows employment contracted by 0.03%, with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. National employment forecasts suggest an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Canterbury North Ashbury's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.2% over ten years.

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 comparison, Greater Sydney has a median income of $56,994 and an average income of $80,856. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $60,904 (median) and $79,567 (average). 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) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, which aligns with the regional trend where this cohort represents 30.9%. Notably, 31.5% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting pockets of prosperity. 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, with the remaining 53.6% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is in contrast to 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 making up 31.8% and rented dwellings accounting for 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 $480, compared to Sydney metro's $465. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury were significantly higher at $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national average 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, which aligns with the Greater Sydney average.

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

Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 43.6% hold university qualifications, compared to the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment positions the area favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent 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 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.0% and certificates at 13.4%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 7.8% pursuing primary education, 7.2% engaged 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, offering a total of 6,718 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 148 meters.

On average, there are 959 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately 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 of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Canterbury (North) - Ashbury. Prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups is very low.

Private health cover rate is approximately 55% of the total population (~6,978 people), compared to 57.3% across Greater Sydney. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 6.8 and 6.1% of residents respectively. 74.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.0% across Greater Sydney. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (2,030 people), higher than the 14.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with the general population's health 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's Ashbury has high cultural diversity, with 43.7% of residents born overseas and 45.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Canterbury North-Ashbury, accounting for 49.7%. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, comprising 5.6% versus 2.8%.

Top ancestry groups are Other (17.1%), Australian (14.9%), and English (14.5%). Notably, Greek (6.4%) Lebanese (3.7%), and Spanish (0.9%) ethnicities have higher representation than 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, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.7%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.1% to 12.0% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 10.1% to 8.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Canterbury (North) - Ashbury's age structure. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 101%, reaching 631 people from 314, with those aged 65 and above comprising 68% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 0-4 and 15-24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.