Ashwood

Population growth drivers in Ashwood are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The suburb of Ashwood's population is estimated at around 7,459 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 305 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,154 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 7,447 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 51 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,925 persons per square kilometer, placing Ashwood in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, a significant population increase in the top quartile of statistical areas across the nation is forecast for Ashwood, with an expected growth of 2,376 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 31.7% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Ashwood according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Ashwood had approximately 33 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 165 homes were approved, with 13 more approved in FY-26 by May. The average construction cost value for new properties is $783,000, indicating a focus on the premium market.

Commercial approvals totalled $19.1 million in FY-26. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Ashwood has 15.0% less new development per person but ranks at the 58th percentile nationally. New developments consist of 57.0% standalone homes and 43.0% medium and high-density housing.

With around 267 people per dwelling approval, Ashwood is considered a low density area. By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Ashwood's population will grow by 2,364 residents. If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth.

Ashwood has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. Five projects identified by AreaSearch may impact the area. Notable ones are Ashburton Library and Community Centre, Ashwood Green, Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre, and Suburban Rail Loop East. Relevant details follow.

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Ashwood has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Ashwood has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 4.4% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.1%. As of December 2025, 4,072 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation in Ashwood is 67.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. According to Census responses, 43.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. Ashwood has a notably high concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction employs only 7.6% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 3.1%, while labour force grew by 3.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In Greater Melbourne, employment rose by 2.4%, labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ashwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and 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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Ashwood's median taxpayer income was $53,564 and average income was $74,092. Nationally, the averages were $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $58,717 (median) and $81,220 (average), accounting for a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data indicates Ashwood's household, family, and personal incomes are at the 57th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows 24.4% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, mirroring surrounding regions where 32.8% fall into this bracket. The suburb demonstrates affluence with 32.4% earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting premium retail and services. High housing costs consume 17.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile nationally. Ashwood's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Ashwood displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Ashwood's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 58.3% houses and 41.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ashwood stood at 30.1%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the rest being mortgaged (32.1%) or rented (37.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Ashwood was $391, slightly above Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Ashwood's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $391 versus the national figure of $375.

Ashwood features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.1% of all households, including 32.3% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.9%, with lone person households at 27.7% and group households comprising 4.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Ashwood's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 46.2% hold university qualifications, compared to 29.8% in the SA4 region and 30.4% nationwide. This high level of attainment positions Ashwood strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.2%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.0% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 12.0%. Educational participation is notably high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in secondary education, 8.4% in primary education, and 7.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ashwood has 30 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by seven routes that collectively facilitate 1,572 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 250 meters to the nearest stop. The area is predominantly residential, and most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 82%, while trains are used by 9%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 43.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 224 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Ashwood's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Ashwood's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical, but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts. Private health cover rate is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~4,183 people). The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 8.8 and 7.3% of residents respectively. 70.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,320 people), which is higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Ashwood is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Ashwood has a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.7% of its population born overseas and 38.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Ashwood, making up 43.5% of the population. However, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 0.7% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Australian (16.7%), and Chinese (15.1%), which is significantly higher than the regional average of 6.5%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, such as Sri Lankan at 1.1% versus 0.8%, Polish at 1.1% versus 0.8%, and Russian at 0.6% versus 0.4%.

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

The median age in Ashwood is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and close to the national average of 38. The percentage of individuals aged 85 and above is notably higher in Ashwood at 3.6%, compared to the Greater Melbourne average, while those aged 25 to 34 are under-represented at 14.9%. According to data from the Census conducted on August 2021, the percentage of individuals aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.8% to 13.2%, while those aged 35 to 44 have risen from 14.2% to 15.3%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 5 to 14 has declined from 11.6% to 10.7%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Ashwood. Notably, the group aged 45 to 54 is expected to grow by 42%, adding 400 people and reaching a total of 1,348 from the previous figure of 947.