Urban Centre · Area profile
Ashford
4 km²
Tucked into the Inverell region of New South Wales, Ashford is a small community with a distinctively older and more diverse population. It stands out for its high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, who now make up 26.1% of the population. The area has aged significantly, with the typical resident now 55 and a third of the community aged 65 or over. This shift, combined with low typical incomes, suggests a quiet residential pocket where many people are now retired.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 26.1% of the community, far above the national figure. The population is much older than most areas, with the typical age rising to 55 and seniors accounting for 33.3% of residents.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 82.4% born here and only 5.9% born overseas, which is far below the state and national averages.
English is the primary language for 89.0% of residents. Very few people use another language at home (3.0%), and no residents reported speaking little or no English.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 58.5%. Those reporting no religion account for 30.7%, a figure that is a little below the New South Wales average.
Educational attainment is among the lowest for its level, with only 21.4% completing Year 12 and 3.8% holding a bachelor degree or higher, both far below the national figures.
Typical weekly household income is $809, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. Only 2.9% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, placing the area among the lowest for its level.
Health challenges are common here, as 44.1% of people have a long-term health condition. This is consistent with a high number of seniors, with 15.0% of residents needing help with daily activities.
Participation in unpaid care for children is among the lowest at this level (14.6%), which aligns with the low percentage of children under 15 in the area.
Household sizes are small, with a typical home holding 2.0 people. Single-person households are common at 39.1%, though one-parent families are much more frequent here than in most other areas.
The area is dominated by separate houses, and nearly half (49.3%) are owned outright. Rent is much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly payment of $180.
Cars are the primary way to get around, as no one uses public transport to commute. While 56.2% of workers drive to work, 10.8% walk.
The population is relatively stable, with 30.0% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the state average. No recent overseas arrivals were recorded.
The unemployment rate is 15.4%, which is far above the national figure. Only 37.6% of adults are working or looking for work, and full-time employment has fallen since 2011.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services, groceries, and schools. However, there is no public transport within a 10-minute walk, resulting in a somewhat walkable score of 5.2.