Forest Lake
A 39.8% overseas-born share, 18.2 percentage points above the national figure, gives Forest Lake a more internationally connected profile than its suburban image suggests. Its 22,676 residents have a median age of 37, three years below national, while household income sits at the 71.9th percentile. The suburb is strongly detached and mortgage-led: 94.9% of homes are separate houses and 47.5% are mortgaged. Compared with nearby Springfield Lakes, Forest Lake has the more established, family-oriented footprint, with 2.8 people per household and 52.3% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms.
Population
22,676
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,921/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Forest Lake suits buyers prioritising space and conventional family layouts because 94.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.3% have four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.2%, while apartments make up only 1.6%, far lower than the detached-house share. A suburb-wide median house price is not stated, so repayments deserve close attention: the typical mortgage figure is $1,690 per month, compared with weekly rent of $390, and mortgage costs equal 20.3% of household income. With 47.5% of homes mortgaged and 25.1% owned outright, Forest Lake is more mortgage-belt than renter-led. Compared with nearby Springfield Lakes, its established housing pattern may appeal to buyers who value settled streets over newer expansion.
For Buyers
Forest Lake suits buyers prioritising space and conventional family layouts because 94.9% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.3% have four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.2%, while apartments make up only 1.6%, far lower than the detached-house share. A suburb-wide median house price is not stated, so repayments deserve close attention: the typical mortgage figure is $1,690 per month, compared with weekly rent of $390, and mortgage costs equal 20.3% of household income. With 47.5% of homes mortgaged and 25.1% owned outright, Forest Lake is more mortgage-belt than renter-led. Compared with nearby Springfield Lakes, its established housing pattern may appeal to buyers who value settled streets over newer expansion.
For Investors
Forest Lake has a meaningful rental base, with 26.3% of households renting, weekly rent of $390 and a vacancy rate of 3.6%. That demand is supported by a large detached-house stock, which can attract longer-term family tenants rather than relying only on short stays. Rent growth of 8.6% is a useful recent signal, although yield cannot be assessed without a current median house price. Development activity reached 38 applications in 12 months, including subdivision and infrastructure-related work, which may add choice while also competing with existing stock. The annual growth trend is 1.05% and is driven by overseas migration. Compared with the 47.5% mortgage share, the rental sector is smaller, so investors should price carefully.
Development Activity
Total DAs
101
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+60.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Forest Lake
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St John's Anglican College (College Ave, Forest Lake)
Forest Lake State High School
Forest Lake State School
Grand Avenue State School
Demographics
Forest Lake combines a family-heavy structure with a gradual ageing pattern. The median age is 37, three years below the national figure, while the average household contains 2.8 people, 0.3 above national. Couples with children make up 49.2% of families and one-parent families account for 17.6%, helping explain the strong demand for three and four-bedroom houses. Overseas-born residents represent 39.8% of the population, 18.2 percentage points above national, and university attainment is 37.5%, 7.4 points above national. English, Scottish, Vietnamese and Irish ancestry are prominent, while Mandarin, Samoan and Sinhal are among the listed languages. Compared with nearby Springfield Lakes, Forest Lake presents as more established, with 79.9% of residents remaining at the same address and a turnover rate of 20.1%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.9%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Forest Lake's housing is substantially detached, with separate houses accounting for 94.9% of dwellings, compared with 1.6% apartments and 3.4% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 52.3% have four or more bedrooms and 43.2% have three, so smaller dwellings are comparatively uncommon. Tenure is split between 47.5% mortgaged, 25.1% owned outright and 26.3% rented, creating a clear mortgage-belt character. A current median house price and price-to-income ratio are not stated, but household income is $1,921 per week and both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income are 20.3%. Compared with denser western Brisbane housing, Forest Lake provides more family space because its stock is overwhelmingly low-rise and detached.
Mortgage / mo
$1,690
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $390.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $600
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$801
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.6%
Unoccupied
288
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.2%
Couples with children
31.7%
Couples, no children
17.6%
Single parent
6,325
Total families
Economy & Employment
Forest Lake's employment base is led by healthcare at 20.0%, or 1,472 workers, followed by education at 12.3% and 910 workers. Public administration contributes 8.7%, professional and technical services 8.6%, and manufacturing 7.8%, giving the suburb a broader base than a single-industry area. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,516, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 1,734 and community and personal service workers at 1,434. The participation rate is 66.5%, full-time employment is 61.0% and unemployment is 5.5%. Household income ranks at the 71.9th percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA places education and occupation at decile 6, while disadvantage and advantage indexes sit at decile 5, indicating middle-range conditions despite relatively strong incomes.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
12,038
Unemployed
660
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
66.5%
Employed
11,378
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.5%
Postgraduate
10.0%
Born Overseas
39.8%
Dwellings
7,728
Transport to Work
Forest Lake is practical for households with cars, because 70.3% of commuters drive while only 4.4% use public transport and 1.4% walk or cycle. Working from home accounts for 18.1%, which supports residents who can reduce daily travel. Four local schools span three government options, including a state high school and two state schools, plus one independent college. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. The IRSAD decile is 5, placing Forest Lake around the middle rather than in a high or low advantage bracket. Compared with more transit-oriented suburbs, its lower public transport share means access to employment, shopping and services is more dependent on road connections and private vehicles.
Drive
70.3%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
18.1%
Population Forecast
+1.05%/yr
(+253 people/yr)
EstablishedForest Lake's annual growth trend is 1.05%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 8.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Aging because the senior share has risen by 4.8 percentage points and the young share has fallen by 3.6 points. The gentrification score is 14 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so growth is occurring without a strong upgrading signal. Rent growth of 8.6% may increase pressure on tenants as demand expands. Affordability moved from 49.9 in 2011 to 47.2 in 2021 and is labelled Improving. Compared with a rapidly gentrifying inner suburb, Forest Lake's pattern is steadier, migration-supported and increasingly shaped by an established resident base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+344
Net Internal / yr
-210
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Net internal outflow -210/yr, Strong overseas inflow +344/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Forest Lake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Lake a good suburb to live in?
Forest Lake suits households wanting established streets, detached homes and school access. It has 22,676 residents, a median age of 37, 94.9% separate houses and 4 local schools. Compared with denser suburbs, it is more car-dependent, with 70.3% driving and 4.4% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Forest Lake?
A current suburb-wide median house price is not stated. Buyers should compare recent sales for similar homes, especially because 52.3% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. Weekly rent is $390, while the typical mortgage figure is $1,690 per month, providing useful context but not a substitute for a sales median.
What schools are in Forest Lake?
Forest Lake has 4 local schools: a government state high school, 2 government state schools and 1 independent non-state college. The mix is weighted toward government education rather than independent schooling. Check the exact address against current enrolment zones before buying or renting.
Is Forest Lake safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so safety should be checked using current Queensland Police Service incidents and the exact street. Forest Lake has 22,676 residents and an IRSAD decile of 5, but neither figure is a safety score. Compare recent local incidents before making a decision.
Is Forest Lake good for property investment?
Forest Lake has 26.3% renting, weekly rent of $390, a 3.6% vacancy rate and 8.6% rent growth. The annual growth trend is 1.05% and is driven by overseas migration. Compared with a low-rental-demand suburb, these figures support investigation, but a current median price is needed to calculate yield.
How is Forest Lake's population changing?
Forest Lake has a current population of 22,676. The wider-area growth trend is 1.05% annually and 10-year population change is 8.3%, driven primarily by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.8 percentage points and the young share down 3.6 points.
What languages are spoken in Forest Lake?
Forest Lake has a strong overseas-born presence at 39.8%, above the national figure by 18.2 percentage points. Mandarin is the largest listed language at 253 speakers, above Samoan at 222, followed by Sinhal at 166, Punjabi at 163 and Hindi at 149.
Is Forest Lake seeing much new development?
There were 38 development applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision, traffic functional layout work and plan sealing. That activity is consistent with an established suburb still adjusting its housing and infrastructure. Compared with a fully built-out area, Forest Lake may see more local change, although approvals do not guarantee completed dwellings.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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