Ashfield (WA)

Ashfield has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Ashfield (WA) is around 1,553. This figure reflects an increase of 158 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,395. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 1,487 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional three validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio for Ashfield is 2,098 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's population growth rate of 11.3% since the 2021 census surpassed the national average of 9.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

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 and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Ashfield is expected to grow by 144 persons to reach a population of around 1,705 by 2041. This reflects an increase of approximately 6.3% in total over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Ashfield recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Ashfield averaged approximately five new dwelling approvals annually, with 28 homes approved between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, and five more in FY-26. Each dwelling built over these five years attracted an average of 2.9 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost for new dwellings was $502,000, suggesting developers targeted the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY-26, there were $1.2 million in commercial approvals, predominantly focused on residential development. Compared to Greater Perth, Ashfield maintained similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. All new constructions between FY-21 and FY-25 were detached houses, maintaining the area's suburban character and appealing to families seeking space.

With around 298 people per approval, Ashfield reflected a transitioning market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Ashfield is projected to grow by 98 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond projections.

Ashfield has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 38thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects that may impact the area: Jubilee Reserve Redevelopment and Bassendean Town Centre Masterplan. Other key projects include METRONET East Bayswater Redevelopment and Bayswater Apartments, with the following list detailing 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.

Ashfield shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Ashfield's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate stands at 5.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year, as per AreaSearch aggregated statistical area data. As of September 2025825 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.8% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Ashfield is lower at 69.6%, compared to Greater Perth's 71.6%. Census data indicates that only 9.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The primary industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and professional & technical services.

Construction has a limited presence with 7.6% employment compared to the regional average of 9.3%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the past year, employment increased by 1.1%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.9% and labour force growth of 3.0%, with a marginal increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Ashfield. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ashfield's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch reports that, based on the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Ashfield's median income among taxpayers was $53,845 and the average was $65,382. These figures are just below the national average. In Greater Perth, the median was $60,748 and the average was $80,248. Considering a 9.62% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $59,025 (median) and $71,672 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ashfield rank modestly between the 45th and 52nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 26.8% of residents fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. Ashfield's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Ashfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Ashfield's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.5% other dwellings (including semi-detached homes, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashfield was at 25.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.1% and rented ones at 39.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,881, lower than Perth metro's $1,907. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Perth metro's $350. Nationally, Ashfield's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $300 compared to 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 63.8% of all households, including 25.3% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.2%, with lone person households at 30.0% and group households making up 5.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Ashfield fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate of 29.5%, exceeding the SA4 region average of 24.3%, indicates a strong emphasis on higher education among residents aged 15+. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 33.7% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas held by 9.9% and certificates by 23.8%. Educational participation is high, with 27.8% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary (8.6%), secondary (6.6%) and tertiary (5.9%) levels of education.

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

Ashfield has 14 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 27 different routes, collectively facilitating 2,949 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 149 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 80%, while trains account for 12%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 421 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 210 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Ashfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ashfield faces significant health challenges, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover in Ashfield is approximately 53% of the total population (~825 people), compared to Greater Perth's 59.0%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.4 and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 64.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Perth's 71.9%. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Ashfield has 18.8% of residents aged 65 and over (291 people), higher than Greater Perth's 16.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Ashfield are above average, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Ashfield was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ashfield's population is more linguistically diverse than most local markets, with 15.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Born overseas, 28.4% of Ashfield residents were born outside Australia. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ashfield, accounting for 41.2%.

Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Ashfield at 2.5%, compared to Greater Perth's 2.7%. The top three ancestral groups are English (28.0%), Australian (24.3%), and Other (10.0%). Notably, Dutch ancestry is overrepresented in Ashfield at 2.1% compared to the regional average of 1.5%, Serbian at 0.6% versus 0.3%, and South African at 0.8% against a regional figure of 1.0%.

Ashfield's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Ashfield is 38 years, close to Greater Perth's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Ashfield has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (7.0%) but fewer individuals aged 5-14 (9.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the percentage of the population aged 75-84 has increased from 5.6% to 7.0%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 16.3% to 15.0%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 13.9% to 12.8%. By 2041, Ashfield's age composition is projected to change significantly. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 52% (56 people), reaching 165 from 108. The population aged 65 and above will comprise 72% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged 0-4 and 5-14 years.