Forrest

Population growth drivers in Forrest are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Forrest's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 1,899. This figure represents an increase of 72 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 1,827. The change can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,897 in June 2024 and the addition of 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,194 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Forrest's growth rate of 3.9% since the census is within 2.0 percentage points of the state's average (5.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 87.7% of overall population gains in recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, using 2022 as a base, are adopted. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Forrest is projected to experience above median population growth, increasing by 288 persons to reach approximately 2,187 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 15.1% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Forrest recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Forrest has received approximately 8 dwelling approvals per year over the past 5 financial years. This totals around 40 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. By FY-26, 3 approvals have already been recorded. On average, each dwelling built in Forrest attracts about 2.9 new residents annually over these five years.

The average construction cost for new homes is $659,000, indicating a focus on premium properties. This financial year has seen $21.1 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting moderate commercial growth. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, Forrest's building activity is 51.0% lower per person. Recent construction consists of 43.0% standalone homes and 57.0% medium and high-density housing. Forrest's population is projected to increase by 286 residents by 2041, with a current density of around 341 people per approval.

Construction pace is maintaining reasonable growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Forrest has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects that may impact this region: Kingston Arts Precinct and Griffith-Narrabundah Community Centre & Oval Upgrade. Other notable projects include Cromwell Office Building Development and Yarra Rossa. The following details those likely most relevant.

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The exceptional employment performance in Forrest places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Forrest has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 0.7%, with estimated employment growth of 0.9% over the past year as of September 2025.

There are 1,194 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.8% below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation is similar to ACT's at 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance. Notably, professional & technical jobs are at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, accommodation & food services show lower representation at 2.7% compared to the regional average of 6.5%. There are 2.6 workers for every resident, indicating Forrest functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 0.9%, while labour force grew by 1.2%, causing unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.4% and a drop in unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data as of 25-Nov shows ACT's employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forrest's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

In Forrest SA2, median income among taxpayers was $98,598 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $160,236. These figures place Forrest in the top percentile nationally, compared to $68,678 and $83,634 in Australian Capital Territory respectively. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes are approximately $112,007 and $182,028 respectively, based on a 13.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Forrest's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 99th and 99th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 42.0% of Forrest's population (797 individuals) fall within the $40,000+ income range, unlike regional trends where 34.3% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. The locality demonstrates affluence with 54.2% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 89.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. Forrest's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Forrest features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forrest's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 36.5% houses and 63.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 40.7% houses and 59.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forrest stood at 38.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.3% and rented ones at 30.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,520, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,275. The median weekly rent figure in Forrest was $570, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $500. Nationally, Forrest's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,520 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forrest features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 67.2% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 37.0% couples without children, and 4.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households making up 29.2% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which matches the Australian Capital Territory average.

Forrest shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Forrest has a notably high educational attainment, with 64.6% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses both the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 46.8%. The area's residents have a significant educational advantage, which positions them well for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 32.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (25.3%) and graduate diplomas (7.2%).

Technical qualifications make up 14.4% of educational achievements among Forrest's residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas accounting for 7.9% and certificates for 6.5%. Educational participation is notably high in Forrest, with 25.0% of its residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% pursuing tertiary education, 7.4% secondary education, and 6.2% primary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Forrest's public transport analysis indicates 13 active stops operating within the area, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by 7 unique routes, offering a total of 661 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of transport is deemed good, with residents situated an average of 282 meters from their nearest stop.

On average, there are 94 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 50 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Forrest is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Forrest demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 88% of the total population (1,669 people), compared to 78.0% across Australian Capital Territory, and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.8% and 7.8% of residents respectively, while 68.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.8% across Australian Capital Territory.

The area has 26.3% of residents aged 65 and over (499 people), which is higher than the 19.9% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Forrest was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Forrest's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 25.9% born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forrest, accounting for 49.0%. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Australian Capital Territory figures, comprising 0.8% of Forrest's population.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Irish (10.5%). Some ethnic groups showed notable variations: Polish at 1.4%, French at 1.1%, and Scottish at 9.6%.

Forrest hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Forrest is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and considerably older than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forrest has a higher percentage of residents aged 55-64 (16.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.9%). This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the percentage of Forrest's population aged 75-84 has grown from 8.1% to 10.3%, while the 55-64 age group increased from 14.7% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 15.4% to 12.8%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 8.9% to 6.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Forrest's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 58%, reaching 396 people from the current 251. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 69% of the total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.