Haberfield vs Ashfield

Ashfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 46 in Haberfield. In Haberfield, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Ashfield, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Haberfield: a median of $3.05 million, against $2.21 million in Ashfield, and rent is higher there too. Haberfield is closer to the city centre: 8.8 km, against 11.2 km. On these figures, Haberfield tends to suit couples, while Ashfield suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

  • Haberfield has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 22%)
  • Ashfield has more childcare (17 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Haberfield has cheaper units ($657,750 vs $876,750)
  • Ashfield has cheaper houses ($2,206,000 vs $3,050,000)

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 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $530/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 88/100)
  • But Haberfield sits closer to the CBD (8.8 km vs 11.2 km)

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 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (78% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Haberfield carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 61/100)

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

Investors

Ashfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.8% vs 1.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Haberfield Ashfield
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.

Haberfield Ashfield
Walkability 88 / 96
Haberfield — Walkability: 88/100 Ashfield — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 60 / 39
Haberfield — Safety: 60/100 Ashfield — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Haberfield — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ashfield — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ashfield has more residents (23,012 vs 6,480); Haberfield has higher household incomes ($143,572 vs $98,176).

Haberfield Ashfield
Population 6,480 23,012
+255% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.4% -3.5%
Median age 46 36
Median household income $143,572/yr
+32% vs other
 $98,176/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+17% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Haberfield Ashfield
0-4 3.8% / 4.3%
Haberfield — 0-4: 3.8% Ashfield — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 12.7% / 7.5%
Haberfield — 5-14: 12.7% Ashfield — 5-14: 7.5%
15-19 7.3% / 3.3%
Haberfield — 15-19: 7.3% Ashfield — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 5.6% / 8.5%
Haberfield — 20-24: 5.6% Ashfield — 20-24: 8.5%
25-34 7.8% / 22.9%
Haberfield — 25-34: 7.8% Ashfield — 25-34: 22.9%
35-44 10.2% / 15.3%
Haberfield — 35-44: 10.2% Ashfield — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 16.0% / 11.1%
Haberfield — 45-54: 16.0% Ashfield — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 14.5% / 10.3%
Haberfield — 55-64: 14.5% Ashfield — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 10.9% / 7.9%
Haberfield — 65-74: 10.9% Ashfield — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 6.9% / 5.4%
Haberfield — 75-84: 6.9% Ashfield — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 4.5% / 3.5%
Haberfield — 85+: 4.5% Ashfield — 85+: 3.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Haberfield 56.7% couple families
Haberfield — Couple Families: 56.7% Haberfield — Lone Person: 25.9% Haberfield — One Parent Families: 13.6% Haberfield — Group Household: 2.6% Haberfield — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Haberfield 17.5% renting
Haberfield — Owned Outright: 50.7% Haberfield — Mortgage: 31.8% Haberfield — Renting: 17.5%
Ashfield 52.8% renting
Ashfield — Owned Outright: 23.3% Ashfield — Mortgage: 23.8% Ashfield — Renting: 52.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Haberfield Ashfield
Bachelor Degree 20.3% / 24.9%
Haberfield — Bachelor Degree: 20.3% Ashfield — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 9.3% / 11.8%
Haberfield — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3% Ashfield — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.9%
Haberfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Ashfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 7.9% / 6.5%
Haberfield — Certificate III & IV: 7.9% Ashfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.5%
Haberfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Ashfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

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.

Haberfield Ashfield
China 1.0% / 12.2%
Haberfield — China: 1.0% Ashfield — China: 12.2%
Italy 10.6% / 1.6%
Haberfield — Italy: 10.6% Ashfield — Italy: 1.6%
Nepal — / 6.7%
Haberfield — Nepal: not among its largest Ashfield — Nepal: 6.7%
England 3.0% / 2.1%
Haberfield — England: 3.0% Ashfield — England: 2.1%
India — / 3.2%
Haberfield — India: not among its largest Ashfield — India: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.6%
Haberfield — New Zealand: 1.5% Ashfield — New Zealand: 1.6%
Philippines — / 2.9%
Haberfield — Philippines: not among its largest Ashfield — Philippines: 2.9%
Greece 0.8% / —
Haberfield — Greece: 0.8% Ashfield — Greece: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Haberfield 79.7% houses
Haberfield — Houses: 79.7% Haberfield — Flats / Apartments: 8.0% Haberfield — Townhouses: 12.3%
Ashfield 22.1% houses
Ashfield — Houses: 22.1% Ashfield — Flats / Apartments: 70.5% Ashfield — Townhouses: 7.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Haberfield Ashfield
Median house price $3,050,000 $2,206,000
Median unit price $657,750 $876,750
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 32 sales
 24 days
from 95 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Haberfield Ashfield
1 bed $595K / $630K
Haberfield — 1 bed: $595K (5 sales) Ashfield — 1 bed: $630K (79 sales)

5 vs 79 sales

2 bed $1.2M / $910K
Haberfield — 2 bed: $1.2M (5 sales) Ashfield — 2 bed: $910K (230 sales)

5 vs 230 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.

Haberfield Ashfield
2 bed $1.9M / $1.75M
Haberfield — 2 bed: $1.9M (15 sales) Ashfield — 2 bed: $1.75M (21 sales)

15 vs 21 sales

3 bed $2.62M / $2.14M
Haberfield — 3 bed: $2.62M (32 sales) Ashfield — 3 bed: $2.14M (52 sales)

32 vs 52 sales

4 bed $3.55M / $2.65M
Haberfield — 4 bed: $3.55M (48 sales) Ashfield — 4 bed: $2.65M (27 sales)

48 vs 27 sales

5 bed $5.21M / $2.73M
Haberfield — 5 bed: $5.21M (10 sales) Ashfield — 5 bed: $2.73M (5 sales)

10 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Haberfield Ashfield
Residential 80% 78%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 9%
Parks and recreation 9% 6%
Commercial 2% 5%
Industrial 4% 2%
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

Haberfield Ashfield
New dwellings approved 849
across Inner West
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
same for both

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.

Haberfield Ashfield
Houses 1.5%
$1,400/wk on $4.82M
 2.8%
$920/wk on $1.73M
Units — 4.5%
$690/wk on $800K

Ranking within NSW

Haberfield Ashfield
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 43% of NSW

Liveability

Haberfield scores higher overall (89 vs 81); Ashfield is more walkable (96 vs 88).

Haberfield Ashfield
Grade A+ A
Score 89/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Ashfield carries more crime risk (61 vs 40).

Haberfield Ashfield
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Moderate
61/100
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
same for both

Schools

Haberfield Ashfield
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 4.0 km
 3
Strathfield Campus, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.0% 3.9%

Schools in Haberfield

  • Dobroyd Point Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Haberfield Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joan of Arc Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Haberfield Ashfield
Supermarkets 1 11
Cafes & restaurants 18 57
Parks & reserves 9 19
Childcare 8 17
GPs 1 11
Pharmacies 2 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Ashfield sits further from the CBD (11.2 km vs 8.8 km).

Haberfield Ashfield
Walkability score 88/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 8.8 km 11.2 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 18 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 295.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 486.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 14.7%
postcode 2045
 1.2%
postcode 2131
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2045
 8
postcode 2131

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.

Haberfield Ashfield
Worked from Home 57.2% / 49.8%
Haberfield — Worked from Home: 57.2% Ashfield — Worked from Home: 49.8%
Car (driver) 32.3% / 27.5%
Haberfield — Car (driver): 32.3% Ashfield — Car (driver): 27.5%
Train 1.2% / 14.4%
Haberfield — Train: 1.2% Ashfield — Train: 14.4%
Walked Only 2.7% / 3.3%
Haberfield — Walked Only: 2.7% Ashfield — Walked Only: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.3%
Haberfield — Car (passenger): 2.8% Ashfield — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Bus 2.2% / 1.8%
Haberfield — Bus: 2.2% Ashfield — Bus: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.2%).

Setting

Haberfield Ashfield
Elevation 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.1 km 7.5 km

NBN connectivity

Haberfield Ashfield
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,664 premises
 9%
11,566 premises

Climate

Haberfield Ashfield
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)

Haberfield Ashfield
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.7 µg/m³ 16.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.62 pphm 0.79 pphm

Council rates

Haberfield Ashfield
Average residential rate $1,342/yr
same for both
Council Inner West
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Haberfield

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Ashfield

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Haberfield

Haberfield vs Leichhardt Haberfield vs Croydon Haberfield vs Five Dock Haberfield vs Lilyfield Haberfield vs Summer Hill Haberfield vs Lewisham

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 Hurlstone Park
Full data on Haberfield Full data on Ashfield
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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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