Ashfield (NSW)

Ashfield is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Ashfield (NSW) is around 24,932. This reflects an increase of 1,920 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 23,012. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 24,604 following examination of the ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2024, and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 7,311 persons per square kilometer, placing Ashfield in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 8.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.5%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was primarily responsible for this population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections where applicable, 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, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 3,257 persons, reflecting a gain of 11.8% in total over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Ashfield when compared nationally

Ashfield experienced around 104 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 523 homes. In FY-26 so far, 5 approvals have been recorded. The area has seen an average of 0.1 person moving in for each dwelling built yearly between FY-21 and FY-25. New construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering more housing options while new dwellings are developed at an average expected construction cost value of $712,000.

There have been $33.4 million in commercial approvals this financial year. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield has 11.0% less building activity per person but ranks among the 63rd percentile nationally. New development consists of 6.0% detached houses and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles. With around 226 people per dwelling approval, Ashfield shows a developing market with steady conditions.

Future projections estimate Ashfield to add 2,929 residents by 2041.

Ashfield 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 52 projects that could affect the region. Key initiatives include Cardinal Freeman Final Release Development - Wattle Building, NSW School Infrastructure Program - Inner West, 379-381 Liverpool Road Residential Development, and Our Fairer Future Plan (Housing Investigation Areas). The following list details those most likely to be 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 has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Ashfield has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector notably represented. Its unemployment rate is 5.4%, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation as of December 2025. In this month, 14,184 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.6% (1.2% above Greater Sydney's 5.4%).

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Sydney's at 70%. Census responses indicate that 48.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Construction employs only 5.1% of local workers compared to Greater Sydney's 8.6%. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.9%, with a 2.2% employment decline leading to a 0.3 percentage point unemployment increase. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment and labour force growth of 2.2% and 2.3% respectively, with marginal unemployment rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 national employment forecasts project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashfield's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for local population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Ashfield suburb shows median taxpayer income of $51,881 and average income of $68,165 based on latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is approximately national average, contrasting with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be around $56,478 (median) and $74,204 (average), considering Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023. Ashfield's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around 61st percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 33.9% of residents (8,451 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to metropolitan region at 30.9%. High housing costs consume 18.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at 55th percentile. Area's SEIFA income ranking places it in 7th decile.

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

Ashfield's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 22.1% houses and 77.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's composition of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashfield stood at 23.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.8% and rented ones at 52.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,210, below Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Ashfield was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Ashfield's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,210 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 59.4% of all households, including 22.7% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 40.6%, with lone person households making up 32.1% and group households comprising 8.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Ashfield's educational attainment exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 49.9% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational pathways account for 22.5%, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 11.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.1% in tertiary, 5.9% in primary, and 4.5% in secondary education.

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

Ashfield has 153 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 40 routes, facilitating 9,361 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 121 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward using various modes: car (50%), train (31%), and bus (8%). The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.5, lower than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 48.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

On average, there are 1,337 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 61 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

The level of general health in Ashfield is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Ashfield shows above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population, but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 54% of the total population (~13,435 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 8.4 and 5.8% of residents respectively. 73.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (4,113 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney but ranks lower nationally than the broader population.

Ashfield 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 has a culturally diverse population, with 51.7% speaking languages other than English at home and 52.8% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Ashfield, comprising 37.2%. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 7.0% of Ashfield's population versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (18.0%), Chinese (17.8%), and English (15.0%). Spanish (0.8%) and Filipino (3.1%) are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.6% and 2.0%, respectively, while Korean is slightly overrepresented at 1.2%.

Ashfield's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Ashfield's median age is nearly matching Greater Sydney's average of 37, which is modestly under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Greater Sydney, Ashfield has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (23.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Since the Census in 2021, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 11.8% to 13.2%, while the population aged 55 to 64 has declined from 10.3% to 9.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Ashfield's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 71%, adding 949 residents to reach a total of 2,296. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 66% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the cohorts aged 0-4 and 35-44 are projected to experience population declines.