Forrestfield
With 13,181 residents, Forrestfield combines a 38-year median age with a strongly detached housing base: 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 84.8% of commuters drive to work. Its 30.5% overseas-born share is 8.9 percentage points above the national figure, while university attainment at 21.0% is 9.1 points below it. Compared with nearby High Wycombe and Kalamunda, the suburb reads as a practical foothill mortgage market, with 46.2% of households paying a mortgage. That mix supports family-sized housing, but the aging trajectory and 3.2-point rise in the senior share point to changing service needs.
Population
13,181
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,614/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For buyers, Forrestfield is geared towards established-household needs rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 88.6% of stock, with 45.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 45.5% having 4 or more. The typical mortgage payment is $1,733 a month, and mortgage costs equal 24.8% of household income, higher than the 21.7% rent-to-income share. Because a current median sale price is unavailable, compare each property's land, renovation needs and repayments against the local rent of $350 a week. Compared with nearby High Wycombe and Kalamunda, the detached profile is the clearest buying signal.
For Buyers
For buyers, Forrestfield is geared towards established-household needs rather than apartment living. Separate houses account for 88.6% of stock, with 45.4% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 45.5% having 4 or more. The typical mortgage payment is $1,733 a month, and mortgage costs equal 24.8% of household income, higher than the 21.7% rent-to-income share. Because a current median sale price is unavailable, compare each property's land, renovation needs and repayments against the local rent of $350 a week. Compared with nearby High Wycombe and Kalamunda, the detached profile is the clearest buying signal.
For Investors
Investors get a tenant base of 22.6% renters, with weekly rent at $350 and a vacancy rate of 6.1%. Compared with the 46.2% mortgage-paying share, renting is a smaller but material part of the tenure mix, so demand may come from households seeking established family homes without buying immediately. Rent growth of 9.1% adds recent momentum, while 0 development projects over the past 12 months limits immediate new-stock competition. Growth of 1.77% annually, driven by overseas migration, is supportive, but the vacancy rate still warrants careful cash-flow testing.
Schools in Forrestfield
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
HERITAGE COLLEGE PERTH
HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
DAWSON PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL
FORRESTFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL
WOODLUPINE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Forrestfield has a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national figure, but its trajectory is aging: the senior share has risen 3.2 percentage points while the working share has fallen 1.8 points. Overseas-born residents make up 30.5%, 8.9 points above national, with Hindi, Mandarin and Punjabi among the most recorded languages at 63, 52 and 44 people. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 5,323, 1,152 and 1,121. Residents identifying with no religion number 6,016 versus 5,252 identifying with Christianity. Compared with nearby Kalamunda and High Wycombe, this points to long-settled households alongside newer migration influences.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.6%
Houses
9.1%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached: 88.6% separate houses, 9.1% semi-detached dwellings and just 0.2% apartments. The bedroom mix is similarly family-oriented, with 45.5% of homes at 4 or more bedrooms and 45.4% at 3 bedrooms. Tenure is led by mortgages at 46.2%, followed by outright ownership at 28.1% and renting at 22.6%, while the vacancy rate is 6.1%. A monthly mortgage of $1,733 equals 24.8% of household income, higher than the 21.7% rent share. Because no current median sale price is available, assess value through comparable settled sales and holding costs. Compared with nearby High Wycombe and Kalamunda, Forrestfield is best read as a house-led rather than apartment-led market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$810
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
329
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples with children
38.9%
Couples, no children
18.7%
Single parent
3,652
Total families
Economy & Employment
Forrestfield's employment base is led by healthcare at 15.4% or 604 workers, followed by construction at 10.4% or 408, mining at 9.1% or 356, education at 8.9% or 351, and transport at 7.0% or 276. The occupation mix reinforces a hands-on economy, with 1,285 trades workers and 787 machinery or driver roles, alongside 934 clerical or administrative workers and 846 professionals. Participation is 63.6%, the full-time rate is 63.7%, and unemployment is 5.5%. Household income of $1,614 weekly sits at the 53.1 percentile. The IER decile of 7 is above the IEO decile of 4, while IRSD and IRSAD both sit at decile 5, suggesting economic resources are stronger than education and occupation measures alone imply.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
6,798
Unemployed
375
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.7%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
6,423
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.0%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
30.5%
Dwellings
5,093
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-oriented: 84.8% travel as car drivers, compared with 3.2% using public transport, 1.3% walking or cycling and 5.9% working from home. That makes road access and parking more important than transit proximity for many households. Six nearby schools provide a mix of 4 government schools and 2 non-government schools, spanning primary and senior-high options; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Forrestfield's IRSAD is decile 5, a mid-range result, while 13.1% volunteer and 5.3% need assistance. No comparable crime-rate figure is available, so assess street-level safety through current local conditions. Compared with a transit-led suburb, this is a more vehicle-dependent lifestyle.
Drive
84.8%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
5.9%
Population Forecast
+1.77%/yr
(+404 people/yr)
EstablishedForrestfield's established-area outlook is positive but not explosive. The forecast trend is 1.77% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 23.8% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Aging, including a 3.2-point increase in the senior share and a 1.8-point decline in the working share. Gentrification signals are mixed: the gentrification score is 37 at the Early signs stage, while the shift measure is 16 and labelled Not gentrifying. Compared with a wholesale redevelopment cycle, that combination suggests demand can rise through migration without a major change in the suburb's established housing character.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+278
Net Internal / yr
+125
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +125/yr, Strong overseas inflow +278/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Forrestfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forrestfield a good suburb to live in?
Forrestfield can suit households seeking established, detached housing and car access. About 88.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 84.8% of commuters drive, and the median age is 38. Buyers should weigh the 3.2% public transport share and the suburb's aging trajectory against their daily travel needs.
What is the median house price in Forrestfield?
A current median house price is not available for Forrestfield. As a guide to the housing stock, 45.5% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and the typical mortgage payment is $1,733 per month. Check recent settled sales and compare land size, condition and repayments before making an offer.
What schools are in Forrestfield?
Forrestfield has 6 nearby schools, including 3 government primary schools, 1 government senior high school and 2 non-government schools. School access depends on the exact address, so families should confirm enrolment zones, year-level availability and transport arrangements before choosing a property.
Is Forrestfield safe?
No current suburb-level crime-rate figure is available for Forrestfield, so a numeric safety ranking should not be assumed. Its IRSAD is decile 5. Prospective residents should inspect the exact street at different times, review current police information and consider lighting, traffic and surrounding activity.
Is Forrestfield good for property investment?
Forrestfield has 22.6% renters, weekly rent of $350, a 6.1% vacancy rate and 9.1% rent growth. Annual growth is forecast at 1.77% and is driven by overseas migration. The lack of a current median sale price means investors should test yield, debt costs and comparable sales carefully.
How is Forrestfield's population changing?
Forrestfield has 13,181 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is forecast at 23.8% over 10 years, with annual growth of 1.77% driven by overseas migration. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.2 points and the working share down 1.8 points.
What languages are spoken in Forrestfield?
Forrestfield is 30.5% overseas-born, with Hindi recorded for 63 people, Mandarin for 52 and Punjabi for 44. Italian appears for 32 people and Afrikaans for 23. These figures indicate a wider language mix alongside English, Irish and Scottish ancestry groups.
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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