Ashtonfield
A 4,589-person suburb with a median age of 39, Ashtonfield is shaped by detached housing, family households and relatively strong incomes. Household income ranks at the 81.9th percentile, while 94.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 44.0% are owned with a mortgage. The 2.8-person average household is 0.3 above the national comparison, helping explain the demand for larger homes. Compared with nearby Rutherford and Metford, Ashtonfield has a settled, mortgage-oriented profile, with 68.7% of homes containing four or more bedrooms and 81.2% of residents staying at the same address.
Population
4,589
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,148/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
35
Ashtonfield suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 94.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.7% contain four or more bedrooms. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, equivalent to 21.0% of household income, while rent of $440 per week represents 20.5% of income. Those ratios indicate less housing stress than a heavily leveraged market, although buyers still need to allow for rates, insurance and maintenance. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, the 0.2% apartment share means there is less choice for buyers wanting compact or low-maintenance housing. The 5.8% semi-detached share adds some middle-density options.
For Buyers
Ashtonfield suits buyers seeking conventional family housing, because 94.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.7% contain four or more bedrooms. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, equivalent to 21.0% of household income, while rent of $440 per week represents 20.5% of income. Those ratios indicate less housing stress than a heavily leveraged market, although buyers still need to allow for rates, insurance and maintenance. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, the 0.2% apartment share means there is less choice for buyers wanting compact or low-maintenance housing. The 5.8% semi-detached share adds some middle-density options.
For Investors
The rental market has a 21.7% renter share, a weekly rent of $440 and a 3.2% vacancy rate. That combination points to an established tenant base, although the vacancy figure is not exceptionally tight compared with a highly constrained market. Investment demand is likely to centre on larger houses because 68.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, while only 0.2% are apartments. Development activity is also visible, with 33 applications over 12 months, including dwelling work and alterations. Compared with owner-heavy Ashtonfield households, renters form a smaller segment, so investors should assess tenant demand, property condition and achievable rent rather than assume automatic growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
155
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+45.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ashtonfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Ashtonfield has a median age of 39, which is 1.0 year below the national comparison, and 29.8% of residents have university qualifications, only 0.3 percentage points below the national measure. The overseas-born share is 12.7%, or 8.9 points below the national comparison, supporting an English-speaking, locally settled profile. English ancestry is reported by 1,958 people, followed by Irish at 525 and Scottish at 486. Christianity accounts for 2,513 residents and no religion for 1,660, while Canton, Urdu and Arabic are also represented. The 2.8-person average household is 0.3 above national levels because couples with children make up 50.3% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.0%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and family-sized: 94.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 5.8% semi-detached homes and 0.2% apartments. Four or more bedrooms account for 68.7% of stock, while 3-bedroom homes represent 28.0%. Tenure is split between 34.2% owned outright, 44.0% with a mortgage and 21.7% rented. The ownership pattern is more mortgage-led than outright ownership, which fits the suburb's family-house profile. Monthly mortgage costs of $1,950 equal 21.0% of household income, and weekly rent of $440 equals 20.5%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with apartment-dominated areas, Ashtonfield provides more space but less dwelling-type variety.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $440.
$610
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $640 · units $480
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$891
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
52
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.3%
Couples with children
35.4%
Couples, no children
13.9%
Single parent
1,315
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Ashtonfield's largest recorded industry at 20.6%, representing 326 workers, followed by Education at 11.4% and 181 workers. Public Administration contributes 9.5% and 151 workers, Mining 8.2% and 130, while Professional and Technical services account for 7.3% and 116. This mix connects local households to essential services, government and resource-sector employment across the wider region. Occupations are led by Professionals at 495, Trades at 358, Clerical and Administrative workers at 314, Managers at 295 and Community and Personal Service workers at 277. The labour force totals 2,484, with 1,475 full-time workers compared with 757 part-time workers, while unemployment is 3.5% and participation is 68.4%.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
2,484
Unemployed
88
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.6%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
68.4%
Employed
2,396
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.8%
Postgraduate
7.6%
Born Overseas
12.7%
Dwellings
1,562
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 69.9% of residents drive to work, compared with 0.5% using public transport and 1.0% walking or cycling. Working from home is more common at 24.2%, which may reduce some commuting pressure. Ashtonfield Public School is the identified local school, a government primary school; families should check enrolment zones and secondary options against the exact address. Compared with public-transport-oriented suburbs, access here is more dependent on private vehicles and local road connections. Safety should be checked using current NSW Police incident maps and recent local reports because conditions can vary between streets. Social support needs affect 4.5% of residents, or about 200 people, while volunteering is reported by 12.7%.
Drive
69.9%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
24.2%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ashtonfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ashtonfield a good suburb to live in?
Ashtonfield is suited to households wanting space, because 94.0% of homes are separate houses and 68.7% have four or more bedrooms. The median age is 39 and household income ranks at the 81.9th percentile. Compared with apartment-focused suburbs, it offers a more conventional family setting but relies more on cars, with 69.9% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Ashtonfield?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from the housing mix. Ashtonfield is 94.0% separate houses, with 68.7% containing four or more bedrooms and 28.0% containing three bedrooms. Compared with apartment markets, buyers should compare like-for-like detached properties by land size, age and bedroom count.
What schools are in Ashtonfield?
Ashtonfield Public School is the identified local school, a government primary school. Families should confirm the catchment and compare nearby secondary options before signing a contract, since enrolment boundaries can cross suburb lines. With 1 local school listed and 50.3% of families being couples with children, school access is an important part of address selection.
Is Ashtonfield safe?
Treat safety as a street-level question and review current NSW Police incident maps, recent local reports and nearby-area comparisons before buying or renting. Ashtonfield has 4,589 residents, so broad impressions may hide differences between streets and housing pockets. Checking lighting, traffic conditions and evening activity can add useful context beyond a single suburb-wide view.
Is Ashtonfield good for property investment?
Ashtonfield has an established rental base, with 21.7% of occupied homes rented, weekly rent of $440 and a 3.2% vacancy rate. Larger houses are the main investment format because 68.7% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. Compared with apartment-heavy locations, investors should focus on family tenant demand, maintenance costs and the effect of 33 development applications over 12 months.
How is Ashtonfield's population changing?
Ashtonfield has 4,589 residents and appears relatively settled, with 81.2% staying at the same address and 18.8% moving during the relevant period. The 33 development applications suggest continuing property activity, although many involve alterations rather than confirmed new dwellings. Compared with a high-turnover suburb, this pattern points to gradual change supported by resident stability.
What development is occurring in Ashtonfield?
There were 33 development applications over 12 months, including a new dwelling structure, additions and alterations such as decks, patios, verandahs and awnings. The mix suggests both incremental housing supply and reinvestment in existing properties. Compared with a suburb recording little application activity, Ashtonfield is seeing ongoing building attention, although application numbers do not equal completed dwellings.
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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