Frenchs Forest
High incomes set the tone in Frenchs Forest, where weekly household income is $3,109 and ranks at the 97.7 percentile nationally. The suburb is strongly detached, with separate houses at 92.6 percent, apartments only 3.1 percent and a median house price of $2,350,000. Compared with nearby Forestville and Davidson, it reads more like a family service hub because 4 schools sit alongside 132 recent development applications. Low renting at 15.8 percent keeps turnover below many Sydney markets.
Population
14,267
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,109/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
140
Median House
$2.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Homebuyers are paying for space rather than density: 92.6 percent of dwellings are separate houses and 60.8 percent have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is $2,350,000, with the latest price point at $2,390,000, 4.7 percent above 2024. Affordability is helped by high incomes, because mortgage costs take 25.8 percent of income and average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national figure. Buyers wanting apartments have limited choice at 3.1 percent of stock.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying for space rather than density: 92.6 percent of dwellings are separate houses and 60.8 percent have 4 or more bedrooms. The median house price is $2,350,000, with the latest price point at $2,390,000, 4.7 percent above 2024. Affordability is helped by high incomes, because mortgage costs take 25.8 percent of income and average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above the national figure. Buyers wanting apartments have limited choice at 3.1 percent of stock.
For Investors
Frenchs Forest is a thinner rental market than many investor suburbs because only 15.8 percent of homes are rented, compared with 84.2 percent owned outright or with a mortgage. The rent setting is still strong at $800 per week, while vacancy at 2.9 percent gives tenants some choice rather than a severely tight market. Demand is supported by overseas migration averaging +213 people a year, but internal migration is -140, so growth depends more on new arrivals and premium family renters than local churn.
Development Activity
Total DAs
746
Last 12 Months
140
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Frenchs Forest iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Frenchs Forest Public School
K-6 · 218 students
Mimosa Public School
K-6 · 562 students
Davidson High School
7-12 · 790 students
The Forest High School
7-12 · 769 students
Demographics
Frenchs Forest is affluent, educated and family sized. Median age is 40, exactly in line with the national comparison at 0.0 years difference, while university attainment is 49.4 percent, or 19.3 percentage points above national. Overseas born residents are 29.9 percent, 8.3 points above national, with English ancestry at 5,681 people and Chinese ancestry at 840. Household size is 3.2, 0.7 above national, which fits the 60.8 percent share of larger homes and the 6,459 couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing base is owner dominated and high priced. Outright ownership is 37.3 percent, mortgages cover 46.9 percent and renting is only 15.8 percent, so the market is less liquid than suburbs with higher investor stock. Prices moved from $2,283,500 in 2024 to $2,390,000 in 2025, a 4.7 percent lift, with the latest quarter also the peak and 0.0 percent below peak. The price-to-income ratio is about 14.5 times annual household income, but mortgage-to-income sits at 25.8 percent because local household earnings are high.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$800
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,038
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
2.9%
Unoccupied
130
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.3%
Couples, no children
12,881
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce leans heavily into higher income occupations. Professional and tech jobs account for 15.6 percent, healthcare 14.3 percent, education 11.6 percent, finance 8.9 percent and construction 8.3 percent. Professionals number 2,195 and managers 1,507, which explains why household income ranks at the 97.7 percentile. SEIFA is consistently high: IEO decile 9, IER decile 10, IRSD decile 10 and IRSAD decile 10. IEO is slightly below the other deciles, but income and low disadvantage still rank at the top end.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
9,936
Unemployed
262
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
32.4%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
6,463
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.4%
Postgraduate
12.8%
Born Overseas
29.9%
Dwellings
4,402
Transport to Work
Daily life is car oriented because 85.3 percent drive to work, compared with only 4.4 percent using public transport and 4.3 percent walking or cycling. The school offer is compact but strong, with 4 local government schools and an ICSEA range from 1062 to 1123. Frenchs Forest Public School leads at 1123, followed by Mimosa Public School at 1119 and Davidson High School at 1089. IRSAD decile 10 supports the premium livability profile, while the all-government school mix keeps the local education pathway straightforward.
Drive
85.3%
Public Transport
4.4%
Walk / Cycle
4.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.38%/yr
(+67 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is slow rather than speculative. The trend forecast is 0.38 percent a year, or about 67 people annually, with the medium path rising to 18,053 by 2031. Migration explains the mixed trajectory: overseas migration is the primary driver at +213 people a year, while internal migration is -140 as some households leave for cheaper options. The gentrification score is 10 and stage is Not gentrifying, which is lower than a redevelopment-led market. Even with rent growth at 26.2 percent, the suburb remains established and family held.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+213
Net Internal / yr
-140
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -140/yr, Strong overseas inflow +213/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Frenchs Forest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frenchs Forest a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for households seeking space, schools and high socioeconomic settings. Separate houses make up 92.6 percent of dwellings, there are 4 local schools, and household income is $3,109 per week, well above the national middle.
What is the median house price in Frenchs Forest?
The median house price is $2,350,000. The latest price point is $2,390,000 in 2025, up 4.7 percent from $2,283,500 in 2024, with the latest quarter sitting at the recorded peak.
What schools are in Frenchs Forest?
Frenchs Forest has 4 local government schools: Frenchs Forest Public School, Mimosa Public School, Davidson High School and The Forest High School. Their ICSEA range runs from 1062 to 1123, with enrolments from 218 to 790.
Is Frenchs Forest safe?
Street-level safety should be checked with current local sources, but the suburb's socioeconomic indicators are very strong. IRSD and IRSAD both sit in decile 10, and only 3.5 percent of residents need assistance with core activities.
Is Frenchs Forest good for property investment?
It is a premium, low-yield style market rather than a high-churn rental area. Renting is only 15.8 percent, but median rent is $800 per week, vacancy is 2.9 percent and 132 recent development applications point to ongoing renewal.
How is Frenchs Forest's population changing?
Population growth is modest, forecast at 0.38 percent a year or about 67 people annually. The medium path reaches 18,053 by 2031, driven by overseas migration of +213 a year despite internal migration of -140.
Is there much development in Frenchs Forest?
Yes. There were 132 development applications over 12 months, including alterations, office premises work and a dual occupancy with 2 dwellings. That is above a quiet-renewal setting and reflects gradual change in an established suburb.
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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