Forest Glen
Half the homes in Forest Glen are owned outright, a rate that places it well above the national average and signals a mature, established owner base rather than an entry-level suburb. With a population of just 1,657 spread across 6.59 km2, density sits at 251 people per km2, far lower than surrounding Sunshine Coast centres. The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure. Almost 97% of dwellings are separate houses, and 41% have four or more bedrooms, making this one of the more spacious residential pockets in the region. Household income sits at the 39.5th percentile nationally, below average, while Healthcare alone employs one in four workers.
Population
1,657
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,387/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$610K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price is $610,000, based on 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,089, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 34.8%, above the standard 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income runs at 36.0%, also above stress levels. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9%, with 41.3% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 34.5% having 2 bedrooms. Outright owners hold 50.8% of dwellings, compared to 33.5% on mortgages and 15.6% renting. That ownership profile suggests many residents bought years ago at lower prices, meaning new buyers entering at $610,000 face tighter serviceability than the long-term owner base. The vacancy rate is 4.9%, higher than the typical healthy market band of 2-3%.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price is $610,000, based on 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,089, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 34.8%, above the standard 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income runs at 36.0%, also above stress levels. Stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.9%, with 41.3% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 34.5% having 2 bedrooms. Outright owners hold 50.8% of dwellings, compared to 33.5% on mortgages and 15.6% renting. That ownership profile suggests many residents bought years ago at lower prices, meaning new buyers entering at $610,000 face tighter serviceability than the long-term owner base. The vacancy rate is 4.9%, higher than the typical healthy market band of 2-3%.
For Investors
Rental demand is thin relative to the suburb profile. Only 15.6% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $500. Against the $610,000 median, that yields roughly 4.3% gross, moderate for a regional Queensland suburb. The vacancy rate of 4.9% is elevated, suggesting supply is comfortable and tenants have choice. Development activity is low at 12 applications in the past 12 months, all operational works rather than new residential dwellings, so the housing stock is unlikely to grow quickly. The 68.1% of residents who have not moved in the past 5 years points to a stable but low-turnover market where investment opportunities emerge slowly rather than frequently.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Forest Glen iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sunshine Coast Grammar School
Prep-12 · 1472 students
Montessori International College
Prep-12 · 276 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, placing Forest Glen firmly in an aging-resident category. Overseas-born residents make up 21.8% of the population, broadly in line with the national average at 0.2 percentage points above it. Ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 803 residents, followed by Scottish (207) and Irish (165). Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure exactly. University qualifications reach 27.2%, which is 2.9 percentage points below the national rate. Couples with children make up the largest family type at 585, while couples without children account for 490. The workforce participation rate of 47.1% is low, consistent with the older age profile leaving 577 residents outside the labour force.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.9%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Forest Glen's housing stock is almost uniformly detached: 96.9% are separate houses, with semi-detached at 2.7% and apartments at just 0.5%. That compares starkly to the national apartment share and reflects the suburb's low-density character. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 41.3% of dwellings and two-bedroom homes for 34.5%, giving a bedroom profile skewed toward larger family homes. The tenure split favours outright owners at 50.8%, above the national rate, while renters at 15.6% are a small minority. The median house price is estimated at $610,000 with a 4.9% vacancy rate. Mortgage and rent stress flags are both active, with mortgage-to-income at 34.8% and rent-to-income at 36.0%, meaning affordability is a genuine constraint for new entrants at current prices.
Mortgage / mo
$2,089
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$656
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.2%
Couples, no children
1,352
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 25.1% of workers (111 people), well above the national industry share, followed by Construction at 12.2% (54) and Education at 10.6% (47). Retail accounts for 9.7% and Other Services 6.5%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 133 workers, followed by Managers (100) and Clerical/Admin (89). The unemployment rate is 3.9% from a workforce of 634 employed residents. The full-time employment rate of 58.3% is moderate. Household income sits at the 39.5th percentile nationally, below average, and personal weekly income averages $656. The volunteering rate of 17.7% is above typical community rates, consistent with the older, settled resident base. SEIFA scores are not available for this suburb, so disadvantage rankings cannot be confirmed from this data.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.3%
Part-time
37.8%
Participation
47.1%
Employed
609
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.2%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
21.8%
Dwellings
639
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme at 92.0% of residents commuting by car, compared to just 0.6% using public transport, reflecting Forest Glen's position as a low-density suburb without a rail connection. Walking and cycling account for 2.3%. The suburb has no schools recorded in the dataset, so families rely on education options in nearby Sunshine Coast centres. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The 5.5% of residents who need daily assistance (88 people) is moderate, and volunteering at 17.7% points to community engagement above average national levels. Household income at the 39.5th percentile nationally is below average, but the 50.8% outright ownership rate means many residents carry no mortgage, reducing financial pressure relative to the income figure alone.
Drive
92.0%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Forest Glen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Glen a good suburb to live in?
Forest Glen suits owner-occupiers who value space and stability. Half of all homes (50.8%) are owned outright, well above the national rate, and 96.9% are separate houses. The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, so the suburb tends toward settled families and retirees. Car dependence is high at 92% and public transport use is just 0.6%, so a vehicle is essential.
What is the median house price in Forest Glen?
The estimated median house price is $610,000, based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $500 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,089. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 34.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, so affordability is a consideration for buyers entering at current prices.
What schools are in Forest Glen?
No schools are recorded inside the Forest Glen boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Sunshine Coast suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 27.2%, which is 2.9 percentage points below the national average, and 1,657 residents live across 6.59 km2.
Is Forest Glen safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Forest Glen in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the volunteering rate is 17.7%, above typical community averages, and 5.5% of residents (88 people) need daily assistance. The suburb has a median age of 46 and a stable long-term resident base, with 68.1% of residents not having moved in the past 5 years.
Is Forest Glen good for property investment?
Forest Glen offers a moderate investment case. Weekly rent of $500 against a $610,000 median implies roughly 4.3% gross yield. The 4.9% vacancy rate is above the typical 2-3% healthy range, indicating mild oversupply. Only 15.6% of dwellings are rented and development activity is just 12 applications per year, limiting both rental demand and capital growth triggers.
How is Forest Glen's population changing?
Formal population forecasts are not available for Forest Glen. The suburb's turnover rate is 31.9%, meaning 68.1% of residents have remained for the past 5 years, suggesting a stable rather than fast-growing community. The median age of 46 is 6.0 years above the national figure, and the population of 1,657 is spread across 6.59 km2 at a density of just 251 people per km2.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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