Ashfield
Ashfield combines 23,012 residents with a high-density footprint of 3.41 square kilometres, making its 6,739.7 residents per square kilometre a defining feature. The suburb is apartment-dominant, with 70.0% of dwellings in apartments, while 51.2% of households rent. More than half of residents were born overseas, at 52.8%, and the median age of 36 is 4 years below the national comparison. Household income sits at the 70.5th percentile, supporting strong professional demand, but compact homes and renter turnover shape everyday life. Compared with nearby Burwood and Summer Hill, Ashfield's mix of apartments and migrant-majority households gives it a more urban profile because limited land accommodates a large resident base.
Population
23,012
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,888/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
116
Ashfield suits buyers prioritising apartments, lower-maintenance living and established services rather than large blocks. Apartments make up 70.0% of dwellings, while separate houses account for 22.1%; 52.2% of homes have 2 bedrooms, so stock is concentrated below the 3-bedroom family format. The $2,210 monthly mortgage benchmark represents 27.0% of household income, while rent is $440 a week and rent-to-income is 23.3%. Compared with a detached-house market, buyers here need to scrutinise strata costs, parking and building condition because apartment supply and smaller floorplans drive the housing pattern. A median age of 36 and average household size of 2.3 people also support demand for compact dwellings.
For Buyers
Ashfield suits buyers prioritising apartments, lower-maintenance living and established services rather than large blocks. Apartments make up 70.0% of dwellings, while separate houses account for 22.1%; 52.2% of homes have 2 bedrooms, so stock is concentrated below the 3-bedroom family format. The $2,210 monthly mortgage benchmark represents 27.0% of household income, while rent is $440 a week and rent-to-income is 23.3%. Compared with a detached-house market, buyers here need to scrutinise strata costs, parking and building condition because apartment supply and smaller floorplans drive the housing pattern. A median age of 36 and average household size of 2.3 people also support demand for compact dwellings.
For Investors
For investors, Ashfield has a renter-majority base, with 51.2% renting and weekly rent of $440. That demand is supported by a dense apartment market, but the 10.6% vacancy rate is high, so leasing conditions may be softer than in tighter inner-west locations. Development activity is substantial at 120 applications in 12 months, including housing alterations and small retail or takeaway uses; new or upgraded stock can improve amenity but may also increase competing supply. Migration is Balanced and rent growth is recorded at 26.1%, suggesting established demand rather than a one-way growth story. Compare unit yields after strata, maintenance and vacancy costs, because a high rental share does not automatically produce strong net returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
693
Last 12 Months
116
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-10.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ashfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Ashfield's demographic profile is younger and more internationally connected than the national average. Median age is 36, or 4 years below national, while 52.8% of residents were born overseas, 31.2 percentage points above the national share. University attainment is 57.5%, 27.4 points above national, helping explain the concentration of professionals at 4,302. Chinese ancestry is recorded for 5,079 residents, with Mandarin spoken by 1,348 and Nepali by 931. Average household size is 2.3 people, 0.2 below national, consistent with the 45.1% share of couples without children and strong apartment orientation. Compared with nearby Burwood, Ashfield has a similarly multicultural profile, while its compact 3.41 square kilometre footprint intensifies interaction between households, services and housing.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
22.1%
Houses
7.4%
Townhouse
70.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is defined by apartments, smaller floorplans and renting. Apartments represent 70.0% of dwellings, compared with 22.1% separate houses and 7.4% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 52.2%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 20.4%; 15.9% have 0 or 1 bedroom and only 11.5% have 4 or more. Renting at 51.2% is higher than outright ownership at 22.6% or mortgage ownership at 23.1%, because the dense built form provides more flexible, lower-commitment stock. Vacancy is 10.6%, while mortgage-to-income is 27.0% and rent-to-income is 23.3%. Compared with a low-density family suburb, Ashfield offers more compact choice but less detached-house supply.
Mortgage / mo
$2,210
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $440.
$693
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $825 · units $690
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$890
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
1,104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.5%
Couples with children
45.1%
Couples, no children
14.5%
Single parent
5,678
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ashfield has an educated, service-based economy with household income at $1,888 a week and the 70.5th income percentile, above the national midpoint. Healthcare leads local employment at 17.7% or 1,667 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 14.1% or 1,328, Education at 11.6% or 1,087, Finance at 8.5% or 794, and Public Admin at 7.1% or 663. Professionals number 4,302, well above Clerical/Admin at 1,494 and Managers at 1,420, because the suburb attracts knowledge and service workers. Participation is 62.6%, full-time employment is 57.4% and unemployment is 6.3%. SEIFA education decile 9 and advantage decile 8 sit above the midpoint, while economic resources decile 2 is much lower, signalling a sharper gap between qualifications and household financial capacity than the headline income percentile suggests.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
12,724
Unemployed
800
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
31.3%
Participation
62.6%
Employed
11,924
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.5%
Postgraduate
18.5%
Born Overseas
52.8%
Dwellings
9,245
Transport to Work
Ashfield's livability comes from compact access and a broad local school mix, with trade-offs from density. At 6,739.7 residents per square kilometre across 3.41 square kilometres, daily errands can be close, while 52.0% work from home, 12.5% use public transport and 28.7% drive to work. Three nearby government schools cover boys' secondary, public primary and infants provision, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. The 4.4% walked or cycled figure is lower than the work-from-home share, suggesting home-based work is more prominent than active commuting. SEIFA advantage is in decile 8, above the midpoint, supporting access to established services. Check current police information for street-level safety, particularly around apartment buildings and transport routes.
Drive
28.7%
Public Transport
12.5%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
52.0%
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+62 people/yr)
EstablishedAshfield's outlook is established and moderate: the annual trend is 1.05%, while migration is Balanced rather than driven by one dominant source. Population change across the wider area is 13.7% over 10 years, and the shift trajectory is Mixed, with rent growth of 26.1% and real income growth of 20.6%. Affordability improved from 51.9 in 2011 to 44.1 in 2021, even as the senior share rose 1.5 points and the young share fell 0.8 points. Gentrification is at the Early signs stage with a score of 20. Compared with a fast-expanding fringe market, this points to gradual renewal because established housing, rising rents and balanced migration are working together rather than a single population surge.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Accelerating: 5% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ashfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashfield a good suburb to live in?
Ashfield can suit residents who value apartments, services and multicultural amenities. It has 23,012 residents, 70.0% apartment dwellings and 51.2% renters, while its median age of 36 is below national. Check noise, parking, strata fees and enrolment zones at the exact address before committing.
What is the median house price in Ashfield?
Ashfield's current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales by dwelling type. With 70.0% apartments and only 22.1% separate houses, a single suburb figure can obscure the difference between units and houses. Compare at least 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom results before budgeting.
What schools are in Ashfield?
Ashfield has 3 nearby government schools covering boys' secondary, public primary and infants education. Confirm the catchment for the exact address, as enrolment boundaries can differ by school. Families should compare year levels, transport and out-of-area application rules rather than relying on distance alone.
Is Ashfield safe?
Ashfield's safety should be assessed at street level using current NSW Police information and an inspection at different times. The suburb's density is 6,739.7 residents per square kilometre and its apartment share is 70.0%, so building entry, lighting, parking and transport routes deserve particular attention rather than treating density alone as a safety score.
Is Ashfield good for property investment?
Ashfield can work for property investment because 51.2% of residents rent and weekly rent is $440. However, the 10.6% vacancy rate is high compared with tighter markets, and 120 development applications in 12 months may add competing stock. Test yields after strata, maintenance, vacancy and finance costs rather than relying on gross rent alone.
How is Ashfield's population changing?
Ashfield's population is changing steadily rather than through a single sharp surge. The wider area recorded 13.7% population change over 10 years, the annual trend is 1.05% and migration is Balanced. The trajectory is Mixed, with gentrification at Early signs and a score of 20, so renewal is gradual compared with fast-growth areas.
What languages are spoken in Ashfield?
Languages reflect strong overseas links: 52.8% of residents were born overseas, 31.2 percentage points above national. Mandarin is spoken by 1,348 people, Nepali by 931 and Cantonese by 547. These figures can help renters and buyers assess local services, although language needs vary between buildings and streets.
What development is occurring in Ashfield?
Development activity is high at 120 applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a dwelling house, alterations to existing buildings and specialised retail or takeaway food uses. This can improve amenity and housing choice, but it may also create noise or additional rental competition. Check application conditions and construction timing rather than assuming every approval adds a new dwelling.
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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