Ashfield vs Ashbury

Ashfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 44 in Ashbury. In Ashfield, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Ashbury, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Ashbury: a median of $2.41 million, against $2.21 million in Ashfield, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ashfield tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Ashbury suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Ashfield has more parks and reserves (19 vs 3)
  • Ashbury has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 22%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Ashfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($876,750 vs $2,139,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ashfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (53% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $600/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Ashfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (14% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ashfield

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (78% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Ashbury carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 61/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Ashfield and Ashbury drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Ashfield Ashbury
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Ashfield Ashbury
Walkability 96 / 72
Ashfield — Walkability: 96/100 Ashbury — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 39 / 71
Ashfield — Safety: 39/100 Ashbury — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ashfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ashbury — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ashfield has more residents (23,012 vs 3,353); Ashbury rents higher ($600/wk vs $440/wk).

Ashfield Ashbury
Population 23,012
+85% vs other
 3,353
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% +0.7%
Median age 36 44
Median household income $98,176/yr $133,692/yr
+36% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $600/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ashfield Ashbury
0-4 4.3% / 4.0%
Ashfield — 0-4: 4.3% Ashbury — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 7.5% / 13.2%
Ashfield — 5-14: 7.5% Ashbury — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 3.3% / 7.3%
Ashfield — 15-19: 3.3% Ashbury — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 8.5% / 6.0%
Ashfield — 20-24: 8.5% Ashbury — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 22.9% / 7.8%
Ashfield — 25-34: 22.9% Ashbury — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 15.3% / 11.8%
Ashfield — 35-44: 15.3% Ashbury — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 11.1% / 15.6%
Ashfield — 45-54: 11.1% Ashbury — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 10.3% / 14.5%
Ashfield — 55-64: 10.3% Ashbury — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 7.9% / 10.9%
Ashfield — 65-74: 7.9% Ashbury — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 5.4% / 6.4%
Ashfield — 75-84: 5.4% Ashbury — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 3.5% / 2.0%
Ashfield — 85+: 3.5% Ashbury — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ashfield 30.9% couple families
Ashfield — Couple Families: 30.9% Ashfield — Lone Person: 43.2% Ashfield — One Parent Families: 11.9% Ashfield — Group Household: 11.5% Ashfield — Other Families: 2.5%
Ashbury 60.0% couple families
Ashbury — Couple Families: 60.0% Ashbury — Lone Person: 19.6% Ashbury — One Parent Families: 17.2% Ashbury — Group Household: 2.2% Ashbury — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ashfield 52.8% renting
Ashfield — Owned Outright: 23.3% Ashfield — Mortgage: 23.8% Ashfield — Renting: 52.8%
Ashbury 12.5% renting
Ashbury — Owned Outright: 49.7% Ashbury — Mortgage: 37.8% Ashbury — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Ashfield Ashbury
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 17.7%
Ashfield — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Ashbury — Bachelor Degree: 17.7%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 7.9%
Ashfield — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Ashbury — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.5%
Ashfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Ashbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Certificate III & IV 6.5% / 9.7%
Ashfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.5% Ashbury — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.3%
Ashfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Ashbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Ashfield Ashbury
China 12.2% / 3.1%
Ashfield — China: 12.2% Ashbury — China: 3.1%
Italy 1.6% / 5.5%
Ashfield — Italy: 1.6% Ashbury — Italy: 5.5%
Nepal 6.7% / —
Ashfield — Nepal: 6.7% Ashbury — Nepal: not among its largest
India 3.2% / 1.0%
Ashfield — India: 3.2% Ashbury — India: 1.0%
England 2.1% / 1.9%
Ashfield — England: 2.1% Ashbury — England: 1.9%
Lebanon — / 3.0%
Ashfield — Lebanon: not among its largest Ashbury — Lebanon: 3.0%
Philippines 2.9% / —
Ashfield — Philippines: 2.9% Ashbury — Philippines: not among its largest
Greece — / 2.2%
Ashfield — Greece: not among its largest Ashbury — Greece: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ashfield 22.1% houses
Ashfield — Houses: 22.1% Ashfield — Flats / Apartments: 70.5% Ashfield — Townhouses: 7.4%
Ashbury 90.2% houses
Ashbury — Houses: 90.2% Ashbury — Flats / Apartments: 2.7% Ashbury — Townhouses: 7.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Ashfield Ashbury
Median house price $2,206,000 $2,412,500
Median unit price $876,750 $2,139,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 95 sales
 26 days
from 19 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Ashfield Ashbury
3 bed $2.14M / $2.4M
Ashfield — 3 bed: $2.14M (52 sales) Ashbury — 3 bed: $2.4M (15 sales)

52 vs 15 sales

4 bed $2.65M / $2.4M
Ashfield — 4 bed: $2.65M (27 sales) Ashbury — 4 bed: $2.4M (21 sales)

27 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Ashfield Ashbury
Residential 78% 85%
Parks and recreation 6% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 4%
Commercial 5% 0%
Industrial 2% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Ashfield Ashbury
New dwellings approved 849
across Inner West
 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
Approvals change year on year -25% +50%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Ashfield Ashbury
Houses 2.8%
$920/wk on $1.73M
 —
Units 4.5%
$690/wk on $800K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Ashfield Ashbury
House price Higher than 88% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Schools Higher than 88% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of NSW —

Liveability

Ashfield is more walkable (96 vs 72).

Ashfield Ashbury
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Ashfield carries more crime risk (61 vs 29).

Ashfield Ashbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
61/100
 Low
29/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Ashfield Ashbury
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Strathfield Campus, 4.3 km
 3
Strathfield Campus, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 3.8%

Schools in Ashfield

  • Ashfield Boys High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Ashfield Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Vincent's College Ashfield Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St Vincents College Ashfield, Primary School Campus Catholic · Primary
  • Yeo Park Infants School Government · Primary

Schools in Ashbury

  • Ashbury Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Canterbury Boys High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ashfield Ashbury
Supermarkets 11 0
Cafes & restaurants 57 2
Parks & reserves 19 3
Childcare 17 4
GPs 11 0
Pharmacies 6 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Ashfield Ashbury
Walkability score 96/100 72/100
Distance to Sydney 11.2 km 12.4 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 20 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 486.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 76.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2131
 1.9%
postcode 2193
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2131
 16
postcode 2193

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Ashfield Ashbury
Worked from Home 49.8% / 64.8%
Ashfield — Worked from Home: 49.8% Ashbury — Worked from Home: 64.8%
Car (driver) 27.5% / 28.5%
Ashfield — Car (driver): 27.5% Ashbury — Car (driver): 28.5%
Train 14.4% / 2.1%
Ashfield — Train: 14.4% Ashbury — Train: 2.1%
Walked Only 3.3% / 1.4%
Ashfield — Walked Only: 3.3% Ashbury — Walked Only: 1.4%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.0%
Ashfield — Car (passenger): 2.3% Ashbury — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Ashfield Ashbury
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.5 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Ashfield Ashbury
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
11,566 premises
 0%
1,204 premises

Climate

Ashfield Ashbury
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Ashfield Ashbury
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Ashfield Ashbury
Average residential rate $1,342/yr $1,322/yr
Council Inner West Canterbury-Bankstown

Federal electorate

Ashfield Ashbury
Division Grayndler
same for both
Member Anthony Albanese
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ashfield Ashbury
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ashfield

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Ashbury

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ashfield

Ashfield vs Dulwich Hill Ashfield vs Croydon Park Ashfield vs Croydon Ashfield vs Five Dock Ashfield vs Summer Hill Ashfield vs Haberfield

Other comparisons with Ashbury

Ashbury vs Campsie Ashbury vs Croydon Park Ashbury vs Canterbury Ashbury vs Hurlstone Park
Full data on Ashfield Full data on Ashbury
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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