Ashbury
A 93.1st-percentile household income profile sits alongside a median age of 44 and a density of 3,251.6 people per sq km, giving Ashbury an established, high-income character despite its compact 1.03 sq km footprint. The suburb is dominated by 90.8% separate houses, while 65.2% of residents work from home, helping explain demand for larger three and four-plus-bedroom homes. Its population is 3,353, and the 31.6% overseas-born share is 10.0 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with Canterbury and Croydon Park, Ashbury is more detached and settled, with 87.6% of residents staying at the same address.
Population
3,353
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,571/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Homebuyers are choosing a detached housing market rather than an apartment-led one: 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 48.4% have 3 bedrooms and 36.6% have 4 or more. The 49.0% outright ownership rate is higher than the 37.4% mortgage share, indicating many established owners, while the listed mortgage repayment is $2,817 a month. Mortgage costs equal 25.3% of household income and rent equals 23.3%, with neither flagged as stressed. Compared with nearby Canterbury and Croydon Park, Ashbury suits buyers prioritising land, privacy and long-term tenure, although its 1.03 sq km footprint limits the volume of comparable homes.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a detached housing market rather than an apartment-led one: 90.8% of dwellings are separate houses, 48.4% have 3 bedrooms and 36.6% have 4 or more. The 49.0% outright ownership rate is higher than the 37.4% mortgage share, indicating many established owners, while the listed mortgage repayment is $2,817 a month. Mortgage costs equal 25.3% of household income and rent equals 23.3%, with neither flagged as stressed. Compared with nearby Canterbury and Croydon Park, Ashbury suits buyers prioritising land, privacy and long-term tenure, although its 1.03 sq km footprint limits the volume of comparable homes.
For Investors
For investors, Ashbury combines a low 12.3% rental share with $600 weekly rent and a 3.9% vacancy rate, pointing to a predominantly owner-occupier market rather than a high-turnover rental precinct. The 34 development applications recorded over 12 months indicate ongoing renovation and change, although the detached housing pattern means projects are more likely to involve individual dwellings than large apartment supply. Growth is forecast at 1.26% annually, driven by overseas migration, which can support tenant demand but may not translate into rapid yield expansion. Compared with more rental-oriented parts of Canterbury-Bankstown, Ashbury is better suited to investors seeking land-backed scarcity and stable occupancy than aggressive development volume.
Development Activity
Total DAs
219
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-31.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ashbury
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Ashbury has an older profile than the national comparison, with a median age of 44, or 4.0 years above the national figure. University participation is 48.7%, which is 18.6 percentage points above the national comparison, while 31.6% of residents were born overseas, 10.0 points higher than nationally. English and Italian ancestry counts are 677 and 563, with Greek ancestry at 347. Household size is 2.9, or 0.4 above national average, and 54.5% of families are couples with children. With 87.6% staying at the same address and only 12.4% turnover, compared with more mobile inner-west areas, Ashbury's social mix is shaped by long residence and family continuity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.8%
Houses
7.2%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached: 90.8% separate houses, compared with 1.5% apartments and 7.2% semi-detached dwellings. The tenure profile is settled, with 49.0% owned outright, 37.4% mortgaged and just 12.3% rented; outright ownership is higher than renting by 36.7 percentage points. Three-bedroom homes account for 48.4% and four-plus-bedroom homes 36.6%, while 14.3% have two bedrooms. Weekly rent is $600 and mortgage repayments are $2,817 monthly, with rent-to-income at 23.3% and mortgage-to-income at 25.3%, neither flagged as stressed. Compared with Canterbury and Croydon Park, Ashbury's housing mix is lower-density and more owner-held, so recent comparable sales should be matched carefully by land, condition and bedroom count.
Mortgage / mo
$2,817
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $600.
$750
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $900 · units $680
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$892
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
45
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.5%
Couples with children
28.5%
Couples, no children
15.6%
Single parent
956
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is concentrated in knowledge and service sectors: Education accounts for 15.5% of jobs, Healthcare 15.0%, Professional/Tech 12.6%, Finance 8.5% and Public Administration 8.2%. That mix aligns with 540 Professionals and 318 Managers, ahead of Clerical/Admin at 241 and Trades at 144. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, participation is 59.4% and 56.3% of workers are full-time, indicating a solid labour market, although 1,041 people are outside the labour force. Ashbury's IEO score sits in decile 9, above its IER decile 5, while IRSAD is also decile 9 and IRSD is decile 7. The gap suggests strong education and occupation characteristics alongside more mixed economic conditions, so the $2,571 weekly household income ranking at the 93.1 percentile should not be treated as universal.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
1,649
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
59.4%
Employed
1,598
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
48.7%
Postgraduate
15.0%
Born Overseas
31.6%
Dwellings
1,099
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by low-rise housing, home-based work and a compact footprint. Public transport accounts for 2.4% of commuting, car driving 28.7% and walking or cycling 1.7%, while 65.2% work from home, so access needs vary more than in a transit-first suburb. Ashbury Public School provides 1 local government primary option; families should check exact enrolment zones and secondary pathways because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The suburb's IRSAD decile 9 places it above the national middle, consistent with household income at the 93.1 percentile, while density is 3,251.6 people per sq km. A safety decision should use recent police and council records rather than assumptions based on affluence. Compared with Canterbury and Croydon Park, Ashbury is more detached in form but less suited to residents who rely on frequent public transport.
Drive
28.7%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
65.2%
Population Forecast
+1.26%/yr
(+159 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is forecast at 1.26% a year, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change runs at 27.9% over 10 years, but the trajectory is labelled Declining young: the young share has fallen 2.2 percentage points while the senior share has risen 0.9 points. This points to family and mature-owner demand rather than a youthful renter surge. Gentrification signals are mixed, with a score of 19 and stage Not gentrifying, while the shift assessment records an Active gentrification stage at 55. Rent growth of 37.1% and real income growth of 21.2% help explain continuing pressure on established housing, while the affordability measure moved from 56.6% in 2011 to 52.1% in 2021. Compared with faster-changing inner-city markets, Ashbury's growth appears incremental and renovation-led.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+206
Net Internal / yr
-128
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +27% since 2011, Net internal outflow -128/yr, Strong overseas inflow +206/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ashbury compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashbury a good suburb to live in?
Ashbury suits households seeking established streets, detached housing and a high-income setting. About 90.8% of homes are separate houses, 65.2% of residents work from home and household income ranks at the 93.1 percentile. The trade-offs are limited public transport use at 2.4% and a median age of 44.
What is the median house price in Ashbury?
A current median house price should be checked from recent settled sales rather than guessed. Ashbury has 90.8% separate houses, with 48.4% containing 3 bedrooms and 36.6% containing 4 or more. Buyers should compare recent transactions by land size, condition and bedroom count.
What schools are in Ashbury?
Ashbury Public School is the 1 local government primary school identified in the suburb. Families should confirm the exact intake zone, year level and secondary options before signing, because enrolment boundaries can differ from the suburb boundary. School sector and pathway details should be checked for each address.
Is Ashbury safe?
A current suburb crime rate should be checked through recent police and council records before making a decision. Ashbury has 3,353 residents and an IRSAD decile of 9, but affluence alone does not establish street-level safety. Inspect the area at different times and review the exact address rather than relying on a general impression.
Is Ashbury good for property investment?
Ashbury may suit investors seeking established, owner-occupier housing rather than high-density development. Rental homes represent 12.3%, weekly rent is $600 and vacancy is 3.9%. There were 34 development applications over 12 months, while forecast growth is 1.26% annually, so current yield and renovation costs need careful checking.
How is Ashbury's population changing?
Population change across the wider area runs at 27.9% over 10 years, with forecast growth of 1.26% annually driven by overseas migration. Ashbury's trajectory is labelled Declining young, with the young share down 2.2 percentage points and the senior share up 0.9 points, indicating an ageing and established household profile.
What languages are spoken in Ashbury?
Italian and Greek are prominent community languages, with counts of 127 and 123 respectively. Arabic accounts for 78 speakers and Mandarin 64. The overseas-born share is 31.6%, which is 10.0 percentage points above the national comparison, so language needs may vary across households.
Is Ashbury experiencing much development?
Ashbury recorded 34 development applications over 12 months, with examples centred on dwelling houses, alterations and additions. The housing stock remains 90.8% separate houses and only 1.5% apartments, suggesting renovation-led change is more significant than an apartment-heavy construction cycle. Approval conditions should be checked for the exact property.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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