Forestdale
With 46.1% of households owning their home outright and only 5.8% renting, Forestdale ranks among southeast Queensland's most ownership-concentrated suburbs. The median household income of $2,675 per week sits at the 94.6th percentile nationally, yet the suburb retains a working-family character rather than a prestige one. Household size averages 3.1 people, which is 0.6 above the national figure, and 79.1% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, pointing to a suburb shaped by families who intend to stay. Turnover confirms that reading: 81% of residents stayed at the same address for the full five-year period.
Population
2,560
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,675/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
76
Median House
$644K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at approximately $644,000, an accessible entry point by southeast Queensland standards, while household income at the 94.6th percentile nationally means mortgage servicing costs are manageable. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely detached: 99% separate houses, with 79.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and only 19.2% with three bedrooms. That size profile suits families rather than downsizers, and the ownership data backs this up, with 46.1% owning outright and 48.1% on a mortgage, compared to just 5.8% renting.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at approximately $644,000, an accessible entry point by southeast Queensland standards, while household income at the 94.6th percentile nationally means mortgage servicing costs are manageable. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely detached: 99% separate houses, with 79.1% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and only 19.2% with three bedrooms. That size profile suits families rather than downsizers, and the ownership data backs this up, with 46.1% owning outright and 48.1% on a mortgage, compared to just 5.8% renting.
For Investors
Forestdale is not a high-yield rental market. The renter share of 5.8% is far below state and national averages, meaning tenant demand is thin by design: residents here buy rather than rent. Weekly rent of $500 against a $644,000 median implies a gross yield around 4%, reasonable but not exceptional. The vacancy rate of 4.1% is above the typical healthy threshold of 3%, a caution for new landlords entering the market. On the demand side, 66 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a healthy pipeline indicating ongoing residential confidence. The low turnover rate of 19% also suggests limited resale volume, which can constrain exit liquidity for investors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
148
Last 12 Months
76
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Forestdale's median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, reflecting a settled, family-oriented community rather than a younger renter-driven one. Overseas-born residents make up 28.5% of the population, which is 6.9 percentage points above the national average, with English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry dominating. The suburb's 35.4% university qualification rate runs 5.3 percentage points above national, consistent with the high representation of Professionals (284 workers) and Managers (227 workers) in the workforce. Average household size of 3.1, also 0.6 above national, combined with 863 couples-with-children families, confirms this is a suburb anchored by multi-child family households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost singular in character: 99% separate houses, with 79.1% of those having four or more bedrooms. Only 1.7% of dwellings have two bedrooms, which is unusually low compared to state and national norms, indicating the suburb has developed almost exclusively for families needing substantial space. Tenure reflects long-term commitment, with 46.1% owning outright and 48.1% on a mortgage, while renters at 5.8% are well below the national average. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383 and rent averages $500 per week. Rent-to-income at 18.7% is below the 30% stress threshold, meaning even renters here face relatively modest housing costs relative to local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$500
HH Size
3.1
Personal Income / wk
$882
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.1%
Unoccupied
33
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.4%
Couples, no children
2,295
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 16.5% of the workforce (145 workers), followed by Construction at 13.5% (119) and Education at 12.2% (107). Professional/Tech accounts for 8.4% and Manufacturing 8.1%, giving the local economy a blend of service-sector and trade employment. By occupation, Professionals (284), Clerical/Admin (233), and Managers (227) are the top three groups. The unemployment rate of 3.6% is low, and the full-time employment rate of 65.9% is strong, with 825 residents working full-time. Participation at 61.3% sits slightly below national norms, likely because the older median age of 43 brings more retirees and pre-retirees into the not-in-labour-force category, which accounts for 652 residents.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.9%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
61.3%
Employed
1,251
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.4%
Postgraduate
7.2%
Born Overseas
28.5%
Dwellings
784
Transport to Work
Forestdale is car-dependent: 90.6% of residents drive to work, while only 1.2% use public transport and 1.4% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburb's low-density layout and limited transit access, which is a practical trade-off residents accept for the space and ownership opportunities on offer. The volunteering rate of 16.5% points to community engagement above passive levels. Only 3.8% of residents (94 people) need assistance with daily activities, a low figure consistent with the relatively young family profile. Housing stress indicators are favourable, with mortgage-to-income at 20.6% and rent-to-income at 18.7%, both well below the 30% stress threshold, meaning most residents have financial headroom compared to many suburban markets.
Drive
90.6%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Forestdale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forestdale a good suburb to live in?
Forestdale suits families seeking space, ownership, and stability. Household income sits at the 94.6th percentile nationally, mortgage-to-income is a comfortable 20.6%, and 81% of residents stayed at the same address for five years. The suburb is car-dependent with limited public transport, and 99% of homes are detached houses averaging four-plus bedrooms.
What is the median house price in Forestdale?
The median house price is approximately $644,000, estimated from current rental yields. Weekly rent averages $500, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383. Household income at the 94.6th percentile nationally makes servicing those costs manageable for most buyers.
What schools are in Forestdale?
No schools are recorded inside the Forestdale postcode (4118) boundary in this dataset, so families typically rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Browns Plains and Hillcrest. The suburb's 35.4% university qualification rate is 5.3 percentage points above the national figure, indicating a well-educated resident population.
Is Forestdale safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Forestdale in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb has strong economic indicators, with household income at the 94.6th percentile nationally, a 3.6% unemployment rate, and only 3.8% of residents (94 people) needing daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Forestdale good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $500 against a $644,000 median implies a gross yield around 4%, which is moderate. The renter share at 5.8% is far below state averages, meaning tenant demand is thin. The vacancy rate of 4.1% is above the healthy 3% threshold. With 66 development applications in 12 months, the suburb shows residential activity, but capital growth rather than yield is the primary investment story.
How is Forestdale's population changing?
Forestdale has a population of 2,560 with a residential stability rate of 81%, meaning most residents stay long-term. The turnover rate of 19% is low relative to most suburban markets. The suburb's family-oriented character, with 863 couples-with-children households and an average household size of 3.1 people (0.6 above national), suggests demand is driven by families settling rather than transient renters.
How much development is happening in Forestdale?
There were 66 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including applications for primary and secondary dwellings and retrospective approvals for carports and sheds. This level of activity is consistent with an established residential suburb gradually adding infill housing, rather than a greenfield area undergoing rapid expansion.
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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