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 was around 1,944 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 117 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,827 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,944 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 12 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 1,222 persons per square kilometer. Forrest's population growth rate of 6.4% since the census positioned it within 1.9 percentage points of the state's average of 8.3%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also with a base year of 2022. Based on these projections, Forrest was expected to have an above median population growth by 2041, increasing by 254 persons and reflecting a total increase of 13.1% over the 16 years.

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 on average over the past 5 financial years, totaling 40 homes. As of FY26, 3 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.9 people moved to the area annually for each new home constructed between FY21 and FY25. The average construction cost value of new homes was $659,000, indicating a focus on premium properties.

In FY26, Forrest has registered $21.1 million in commercial approvals. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory's regional average, Forrest has 51.0% less development activity per person. The dwelling approvals consist of 43.0% detached dwellings and 57.0% attached dwellings. Forrest currently has approximately 341 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for further growth. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Forrest is projected to gain 254 residents by 2041.

Building activity is aligning with these population growth projections, potentially intensifying competition among buyers as the population increases.

Forrest has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 22ndth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Griffith-Narrabundah Community Centre & Oval Upgrade, Kingston Arts Precinct, Light Rail Stage 2B: Commonwealth Park to Woden, and Cromwell Office Building Development. The following list focuses on those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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

Forrest's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 0.7% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%. As of December 2025, 1,196 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.1%, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was 67.8%, slightly lower than ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, 19.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries were public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance. The area had a high specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food employed only 2.7% of local workers, lower than ACT's 6.5%. There were 2.6 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating Forrest functions as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby areas. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 0.8%, labour force grew by 1.1%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment (0.2 percentage points). In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 0.9% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Future employment demand projections from Jobs and Skills Australia, based on national forecasts from May-25, suggest Forrest's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, considering industry-specific growth patterns.

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

Forrest SA2 has an exceptionally high national income level according to AreaSearch data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Forrest is $101,443, and the average income stands at $163,704. This compares with figures for the Australian Capital Territory of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on a 10.44% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates project the median income to be approximately $112,034 and the average income to be around $180,795 as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 income data, Forrest ranks highly nationally for household, family, and personal incomes, between the 99th and 99th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 42.0% of residents earn $4000+ weekly (816 individuals), contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest at 34.3%. Notably, 54.2% of Forrest residents earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating prosperity that fuels local economic activity. After housing costs, residents retain 89.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area'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 structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 36.5% houses and 63.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Forrest's home ownership rate was 38.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.3% and rented dwellings at 30.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forrest was $2,520, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Forrest was $570, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Forrest's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,520 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forrest features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households making up 4.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Forrest's residents aged 15 and above exhibit a notable educational advantage with 64.6% holding university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This is led by bachelor degrees at 32.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (25.3%) and graduate diplomas (7.2%). Technical qualifications account for 14.4%, comprising advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificates (6.5%). Educational participation is high, with 25.0% currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.6% in tertiary, 7.4% in secondary, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in tertiary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

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

Forrest has 13 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 36 routes that facilitate a total of 2,679 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents' average distance to the nearest stop being 282 meters. As a predominantly residential zone, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation at 70%, while walking and cycling account for 18% and 4% respectively. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 19.3% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 382 trips daily, equating to approximately 206 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forrest's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Forrest's health outcomes data shows remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 87% of Forrest's total population (1,699 people) has private health cover, compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.8% and 7.8% of residents respectively. Notably, 68.9% of Forrest's residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory. The under-65 population in Forrest demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 27.5% of residents aged 65 and over (534 people), which is higher than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors in Forrest are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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 had a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 25.9% of its population born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forrest, accounting for 49.0% of its population. However, Judaism was significantly overrepresented in Forrest, comprising 0.8% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's average of 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Irish (10.5%). Other ethnic groups with notable differences included Polish (Forrest: 1.4%, regional: 0.8%), French (Forrest: 1.1%, regional: 0.5%), and Scottish (Forrest: 9.6%, regional: 7.3%).

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's average of 35 years and also considerably older than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forrest has a higher concentration of residents aged 55-64 (16.6%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (9.1%). This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 75 to 84 has grown from 8.1% to 10.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 14.7% to 16.6%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 15.4% to 11.5%, and the age group of 5 to 14 has dropped from 8.9% to 6.2%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Forrest's age structure. Leading this shift, the 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 42%, adding 115 people and reaching a total of 389 from its previous figure of 273. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ will account for 68% of the total population growth, reflecting Forrest's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.