Thinking about buying your first home in Ashfield (2131)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Ashfield is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Ashfield a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Ashfield (2131) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
Tick the places you actually go and how often. We'll work out your typical travel time from this suburb, so you can compare suburbs against the trips you really do.
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19 min
22 min
34 min
31 min
17 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Ashfield suits buyers who want genuine walkability and a short commute without paying the absolute top of the Inner West market. At $835,000 for a median unit, it is more accessible than many neighbouring suburbs, and the 95 walkability score is real, with 22 supermarkets, 66 cafes, and 111 transport stops within 1.6 kilometres. The median age of 36 and strong SEIFA decile of 9 suggest a well-educated, working-age community. Childcare coverage is solid, with 52 of 56 rated services meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard.
Who would not love it
If you are buying a house, the $2,130,000 median is a serious commitment for a suburb that is 70 per cent flats and only 22 per cent separate houses. The 51 per cent renter share means owner-occupier community feel is thinner than the price tag implies. The composite Stickybeak grade of B- and a "safe insufficient" flag are worth taking seriously. The data does not detail what is driving that safety grade, which is itself a reason for caution rather than comfort.
What to verify before you bid
- The "safe insufficient" Stickybeak flag has no detail in the data. Ask your conveyancer to pull crime statistics for the 2131 postcode from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics before you commit. - Units make up the overwhelming majority of sales (369 versus 78 houses). If you are buying into a strata building, obtain the last two years of strata minutes and the current sinking fund balance to check for deferred maintenance. - First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme stamp duty relief does not apply at the median house price. Confirm your specific purchase price against current thresholds with NSW Revenue before budgeting.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Ashfield?
BOCSAR · ASHFIELD 2131
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K5,60112 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−30%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Inner West
Within LGA: Inner West
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT55%457 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES25%209 reports
ASSAULT20%167 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED38%
NON-DOMESTIC62%
Across 162 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Ashfield
25
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
14:48 AEST
Earlwood station · 3.1 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 30 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
6.3µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
9.6µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
1.8pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Earlwood station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 188 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here sit around the Sydney middle. A balance of rental stock and owner-occupier demand.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$670per week
Sep 2025 · 188 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Summer Hill2130
$700▲$30
1.0 km away
Croydon2132
$690▲$20
1.4 km away
Haberfield2045
$1,100▲$430
1.5 km away
Dulwich Hill2203
$723▲$53
2.0 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2131
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2131. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Ashfield with another suburb
Also in Inner West
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Inner West postcodes, or explore the full Inner West suburb index.
Ashfield is the primary suburb with postcode 2131 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Ashfield is the main locality.
Which local government area is Ashfield in?
Ashfield (2131) is located in the Inner West local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Ashfield?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Ashfield (2131) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Ashfield flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Ashfield. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Ashfield?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Ashfield (2131), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Ashfield (2131) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Ashfield (2131). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Ashfield changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Ashfield (2131) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
