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 February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Ashfield (NSW) is around 24,932, reflecting an increase of 1,920 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents an 8.3% rise from the previous population count of 23,012. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 24,604 based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 167 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 7,311 persons per square kilometer, placing Ashfield among the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate exceeded that of its SA4 region (6.5%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Ashfield is expected to increase by 3,243 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 11.6% in total over the 17-year period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Ashfield shows approximately 105 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years ending FY26. This totals an estimated 525 homes. As of FY26, five approvals have been recorded. The average population increase per dwelling built in Ashfield between FY21 and FY25 is 0.2 people per year.

New construction matches or outpaces demand, offering buyers more options while enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $712,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment with upmarket properties. In FY26, there have been $33.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Ashfield records 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, reflecting a shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 22.0% houses).

With around 227 people per dwelling approval, Ashfield indicates a developing market. Future projections estimate Ashfield adding 2,890 residents by 2041, with present construction rates appearing balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

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 has identified 52 projects likely affecting the region. Notable 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 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 notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 5.5%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 14,283 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.3% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Ashfield is similar to Greater Sydney's at 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 48.4% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents are 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%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.4%, while employment declined by 0.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points in Ashfield. In contrast, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by only 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashfield's employment mix indicates potential local employment growth of 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes that does not account for localised population projections.

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

Ashfield suburb's median taxpayer income is $51,881, with an average of $68,165, based on latest postcode-level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Nationally, the median income is approximately similar, while Greater Sydney's median stands at $60,817 and average at $83,003. As of September 2025, estimated incomes are around $56,478 (median) and $74,204 (average), accounting for an 8.86% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates that incomes in Ashfield cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 33.9% of residents (8,451 people), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 30.9%. High housing costs consume 18.7% of income, leaving disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

In Ashfield, as per the latest Census evaluation, 22.1% of dwellings were houses while 77.9% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This differs from Sydney metropolitan areas which had 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, lower than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Ashfield was $440, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Ashfield's mortgage repayments were significantly 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 account for 59.4% of all households, including 22.7% that are couples with children, 26.2% that are couples without children, and 8.7% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 40.6%, with lone person households at 32.1% and group households comprising 8.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, 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

Educational attainment in Ashfield is notably higher than national averages. Specifically, 49.9% of residents aged 15+ possess university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment positions Ashfield favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (15.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.5% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 11.4% and certificates 11.1%. Educational participation is also high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in tertiary education, 5.9% in primary education, and 4.5% pursuing 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 are served by 40 routes, facilitating 9,361 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 121 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 50%, with train at 31% and bus at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.5 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 48.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 1,337 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 61 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanies this data, displaying 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 better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions among the general population is low but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover rate is around 54% of the total population (~13,435 people), slightly higher than the SA2 area average of 50%. This compares to a Greater Sydney average of 59.9%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 8.4% and 5.8% of residents respectively. 73.5% of residents claim to be completely free from 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), higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney but still lower than the national average for 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 highly diverse population, with 51.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 52.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 37.2%. Buddhism is notably higher in Ashfield at 7.0%, compared to Greater Sydney's 4.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Other (18.0%), Chinese (17.8%), and English (15.0%). Spanish (0.8% vs regional 0.6%), Filipino (3.1% vs 2.0%), and Korean (1.2% vs 1.1%) are overrepresented in Ashfield.

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. Compared 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%. Between the 2021 Census and the current time, 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 9.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Ashfield's age profile will evolve significantly. The cohort aged 75-84 is projected to grow by 69%, adding 929 residents to reach a total of 2,276. 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.