InnerCityGurl

I've never lived anywhere else and I love it.

TRANSPORT:
It is extremely convenient for transport. The train station has express trains to the city which takes about 15 mins. Strathfield station is 2 stops away, and links to the Country train lines as well. Anything that isn't local, you can find not far or venture into the city by train, bus or car (about a 20min drive with no traffic, with traffic approx 45mins). If you work in the city, it's a very easy to commute to and from work, especially with so much public transport at the door. The only thing is, traffic can get quite bad on the roads during peak hours, so it will add time to your commute if you drive.

SCHOOLS
There are many great schools in the area/surrounding suburbs -- both public and private. It's also very easy for kids to get to and from school themselves using public transport once they are old enough to do so by themselves.

RESTAURANTS
Personally I've never found Ashfield itself great for eating out, but near the mall there are plenty of restaurants. For dining out though, I advise venturing into nearby suburbs such as Five Dock, Haberfield, Croydon etc. Very convenient and easy to find places to go.

SHOPPING
The Burwood Westfield and Cinema are close by, so very convenient. There is also Ashfield Mall and because it's so easy to get into the city, I've never not been able to find what I want. Groceries are not terribly cheap, but I don't think they are overly expensive either.

PARKS/FACILITIES
Great parks locally, local gyms and pools. There is always something to do, you'll never get bored. Because Ashfield is so linked by transport and close to the city, everything is close by. Plenty of medical centres local, but RPAH is a 20min drive, Westmead Children's Hospital is about a 35min drive away. Sydney Airport is about a 20min drive away, or easily accessed by train.

CRIME/SAFETY
I have never once had a problem. I've never felt unsafe, even when walking at night, or coming home late. I don't know what the statistics are, but it's never felt like an unsafe place to live.

HOUSING
One major drawback is, obviously, housing affordability. A unit in Ashfield will set you back between $450-$550K; a house $700-$900K. Rents are also expensive. So for young couples, it's really not affordable on average incomes. But if you are able to afford such high rents/housing, it's a suburb I'd highly recommend. And this is really the only con I can think of, in every other aspect, Ashfield ticks the boxes.