Ashtonfield

Ashtonfield 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 Ashtonfield is around 4,622, showing an increase of 33 people since the 2021 Census. This rise corresponds to a growth rate of approximately 0.7%. The current population figure is derived from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and their analysis of the latest ERP data released by the ABS in June 2024, which estimated the resident population at 4,621. This increase includes one validated new address since the Census date. Ashtonfield's population density is calculated as 676 persons per square kilometer.

Natural growth contributed approximately 57% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch uses 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 employs the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 using a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Ashtonfield's population is projected to increase by approximately 522 persons, reflecting an overall increase of about 11.7% over the 17-year period. This projection aligns with a population growth trend just below the median for regional areas across Australia.

The level of residential development activity in Ashtonfield is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Ashtonfield has had minimal residential development activity, with fewer than one dwelling approval annually over the past five years (4 approvals in total). This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Yearly growth figures can vary significantly due to the small number of approvals.

Ashtonfield's development activity is notably lower compared to the Rest of NSW, and it falls below national averages as well.

Ashtonfield 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 four projects that could impact this region: Stony Pinch Urban Development, Ashtonfield Public School Upgrade, Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project, and Raymond Terrace Road and Government Road Intersection Upgrade. The following details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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The labour market strength in Ashtonfield positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

As of September 2025, Ashtonfield has an unemployment rate of 1.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. This is 2.0% lower than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Ashtonfield stands at 67.2%, compared to the Rest of NSW average of 61.5%.

A total of 2,469 residents are currently employed. Census responses indicate that 23.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries of employment among Ashtonfield's residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a notable employment specialization in mining, with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.4% compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Ashtonfield's labour force decreased by 2.3%, with employment decreasing by 2.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate of 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashtonfield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Ashtonfield's median income among taxpayers is $61,345, with an average of $75,390. Nationally, this is high compared to the Rest of NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $66,780 (median) and $82,070 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, incomes in Ashtonfield cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 35.8% of locals (1,654 people), earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this range. Economic strength is evident with 30.4% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting higher consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.7% of income, and residents rank high in disposable income at the 77th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Ashtonfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

As of the latest Census, 94.0% of dwellings in Ashtonfield were houses, with the remaining 6.0% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashtonfield stood at 34.0%, with mortgaged properties at 44.4% and rented dwellings at 21.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. Weekly rent in Ashtonfield was recorded at $440, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Ashtonfield's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

Ashtonfield features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.8% of all households, including 41.8% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 18.2%, with lone person households at 16.2% and group households comprising 1.3%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Ashtonfield exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 22.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 28.5%. Educational participation is high, with 32.5% currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.2% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 4.5% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 42 active transport stops operating within Ashtonfield. These stops are served by a mix of buses along 74 individual routes, collectively providing 675 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Ashtonfield's primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 23.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 96 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 16 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Ashtonfield 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 is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~2,621 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 10.2 and 8.9% of residents respectively. Conversely, 65.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show an above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 15.3% of residents aged 65 and over (707 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. National rankings for Ashtonfield are broadly in line with the general population.

Ashtonfield ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ashtonfield's cultural diversity was below average, with 87.3% of its population born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 91.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Ashtonfield, comprising 57.3% of the population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Rest of NSW.

Regarding ancestry, Australian (31.5%), English (30.7%), and Irish (8.2%) were the top represented groups in Ashtonfield. Other ethnic groups with notable divergences included Welsh (0.6% vs regional 0.5%), Russian (0.3% vs 0.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (3.3% vs regional 4.6%).

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

The median age in Ashtonfield is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Ashtonfield has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.0%). According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25-34 grew from 10.7% to 12.9%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 5-14 declined from 15.9% to 14.8%, and the 45-54 age group decreased from 14.4% to 13.3%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Ashtonfield's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 26% (154 people), reaching a total of 751 from the previous figure of 596. Conversely, the 55-64 and 15-24 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.