Ashfield
At 0.74 km2 with 1,395 residents, Ashfield packs 1,882 people per square kilometre into one of Perth's more compact suburban footprints. What stands out is the tenure profile: 38.7% of households rent, yet rent-to-income sits at just 18.0%, well below the stress threshold. The median house price is estimated at $423,000, affordable by Perth standards, and 89.6% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits at the 57.6th percentile nationally, and university qualifications reach 34.2%, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national average. Healthcare dominates the local workforce at 16.8%, followed by Education at 10.3%.
Population
1,395
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,666/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$423K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $423,000 places Ashfield well below the Perth metro median, making entry relatively accessible for first buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,881, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can generally service loans without financial strain. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.6%, with semi-detached at 8.1% and apartments at just 1.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.5% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 32.3%. Outright owners account for 25.0% and mortgage holders 36.3%, a reasonable balance that reflects a mix of long-term residents and newer buyers attracted by the affordable price point compared to inner Perth.
For Buyers
The median house price of $423,000 places Ashfield well below the Perth metro median, making entry relatively accessible for first buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,881, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% sits comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can generally service loans without financial strain. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 89.6%, with semi-detached at 8.1% and apartments at just 1.5%. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 44.5% of dwellings, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 32.3%. Outright owners account for 25.0% and mortgage holders 36.3%, a reasonable balance that reflects a mix of long-term residents and newer buyers attracted by the affordable price point compared to inner Perth.
For Investors
A 38.7% renter share gives landlords a broad tenant pool, and the weekly rent of $300 against a $423,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.7%, stronger than many inner-suburban markets. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, signalling that demand is not tight, so rental pricing needs to be competitive to attract tenants. Rent-to-income at 18.0% means tenants are not under pressure, which supports stable tenancies. The suburb had no development applications in the past 12 months, suggesting limited new supply entering the market. With Healthcare and Education employing 27.1% of local workers, demand for housing near service-sector employment centres remains a structural driver.
Schools in Ashfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ashfield Primary School
K-6 · 165 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, pointing to a relatively active working-age population. About 28.4% of residents were born overseas, which is 6.8 percentage points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (526 residents), Scottish (153) and Irish (133) are the leading groups. University qualifications at 34.2% run 4.1 points above national, consistent with the professional and educated workforce profile. Average household size is 2.4, marginally below the national figure, and 26.0% of families are couples without children. The volunteering rate of 17.0% indicates a reasonably engaged community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
1.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Ashfield's stock is one of the most detached-house-dominant profiles in metropolitan Perth, with 89.6% separate houses and only 1.5% apartments. Tenure splits into three recognisable bands: 25.0% own outright, 36.3% hold a mortgage and 38.7% rent. Three-bedroom homes account for 44.5% of the stock and 4-plus bedroom homes 32.3%, skewing toward family-sized dwellings. Median house price is estimated at $423,000, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,881. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% is below the 30% stress level, while the rent-to-income ratio of 18.0% is comfortably lower than national norms. The high renter share at 38.7% is notable given that the suburb identity signals affordability rather than premium positioning.
Mortgage / mo
$1,881
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$817
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.0%
Couples, no children
981
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the leading industry at 16.8% of workers (78 people), followed by Education at 10.3% (48) and Professional/Technical services at 9.5% (44). Mining and Public Administration each contribute 7.8% (36 workers each), reflecting Western Australia's broader economic character. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 182, followed by Managers at 73, Clerical/Admin at 72 and Labourers at 72. The full-time employment rate is 63.1% and the unemployment rate 6.4%, which is above the national average. Household income sits at the 57.6th percentile nationally, indicating a moderate-income base. The participation rate of 57.1% leaves scope for workforce growth as the relatively young median-age cohort continues to progress through careers.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
624
Occupations
Top Industries
University
34.2%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
28.4%
Dwellings
546
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 79.2% of residents drive to work, while 10.6% use public transport and 1.3% walk or cycle, a transport profile typical of mid-ring Perth suburbs. No schools are recorded inside the Ashfield boundary, so families rely on surrounding suburbs for schooling. Crime data is not available for this suburb in the current dataset. The rent-to-income ratio of 18.0% is well below the 30% stress benchmark, meaning renters retain financial flexibility. About 7.8% of residents (100 people) need daily assistance, and volunteering reaches 17.0%, both moderate figures consistent with a functioning community. Household size averages 2.4, slightly below national, which is consistent with the 26.0% couples-without-children family composition.
Drive
79.2%
Public Transport
10.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
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 offers affordable housing at a median of $423,000 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb is 89.6% separate houses and has a resident profile skewing toward Healthcare and Education workers. Rent-to-income at 18.0% is comfortable for renters too.
What is the median house price in Ashfield?
The median house price is estimated at $423,000 based on 2025 rental data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,881 at that price, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.1% sits well below the 30% stress threshold, making ownership relatively serviceable compared to many Perth suburbs.
What schools are in Ashfield?
No schools are recorded inside the Ashfield boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.74 km2, so families access schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 34.2%, which is 4.1 percentage points above the national average, suggesting an educationally engaged community.
Is Ashfield safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Ashfield in the current dataset. As an indirect indicator, rent-to-income at 18.0% and mortgage-to-income at 26.1% are both below stress thresholds, suggesting limited financial pressure on residents. The suburb has a resident stability rate of 76.2%, indicating a settled rather than transient population.
Is Ashfield good for property investment?
A 38.7% renter share supports rental demand and the estimated gross yield is around 3.7% based on $300 weekly rent against the $423,000 median price. The vacancy rate of 7.1% is elevated, so competitive pricing matters. No new development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, limiting supply pressure.
How is Ashfield's population changing?
Detailed population growth forecasts are not available for Ashfield in this dataset. The current population is 1,395 across 0.74 km2. A turnover rate of 23.8% suggests some churn, but 76.2% of residents stayed in the same dwelling over the census period, indicating a broadly stable community base.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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