Forestville - Killarney Heights

An assessment of population growth drivers in Forestville - Killarney Heights reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Forestville-Killarney Heights' population is approximately 13,497 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 336 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 13,161. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 13,425 in June 2024 and 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,511 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 2.6% growth since the census is within 0.7 percentage points of the SA3 area's 3.3%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

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, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts and latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to grow by 537 persons by 2041, reflecting a total gain of 3.5% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Forestville - Killarney Heights, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Forestville - Killarney Heights has recorded approximately 28 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25144 homes were approved, with a further 14 approved so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these years is 0.6.

New construction has been matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations. The average value of new properties constructed is $449,000, somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. This financial year, there have been $10.9 million in commercial approvals, indicating steady commercial investment activity. Compared to Greater Sydney, Forestville - Killarney Heights shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person, placing it among the 34th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Recent construction comprises 95.0% standalone homes and 5.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 489 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. Looking ahead, Forestville - Killarney Heights is expected to grow by 465 residents through to 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Forestville - Killarney Heights has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of a region is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 24 such projects that could potentially impact the area. Notable projects include the Forestway Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Forestville RSL Club Redevelopment, Angel Place Seniors Living, and Forest High School Science and Technology Centre. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

While Forestville - Killarney Heights retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.4%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking

Forestville - Killarney Heights has a highly educated workforce with a notable technology sector representation. Its unemployment rate is 3.4%. As of September 2025, 6,838 residents are employed, which is 0.8% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in the area is lower at 65.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 56.5% of residents work from home. Employment concentrations are in professional & technical (1.4 times regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing shows lower representation at 2.8% versus the regional average of 5.3%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Over September 2024 to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.6%, while employment declined by 1.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and a labour force expansion of 2.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forestville - Killarney Heights' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Forestville - Killarney Heights SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $64,046 and an average level of $103,203 in the financial year 2023. These figures place it in the top percentile nationally, compared to $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest a median income of approximately $69,720 and an average of $112,347, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since the financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes rank at the 95th percentile with a weekly income of $2,794. Income analysis shows that 36.3% of individuals earn over $4,000 per week, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. The district demonstrates affluence with 47.7% earning over $3,000 per week. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 94th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Forestville - Killarney Heights is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forestville-Killarney Heights' dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 85.3% houses and 14.6% other dwellings. This compares to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forestville-Killarney Heights was 43.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.7% and rented ones at 17.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,400, above Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in the area was $720, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Forestville-Killarney Heights' mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forestville - Killarney Heights features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 80.8% of all households, including 49.2% couples with children, 21.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 19.2%, with lone person households at 18.3% and group households comprising 0.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Forestville - Killarney Heights demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Forestville-Killarney Heights has a higher proportion of residents aged 15+ with university qualifications than the national average. Specifically, 44.3% of its residents hold such qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in NSW. This educational advantage is notable for bachelor degrees (29.0%), postgraduate qualifications (12.0%), and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways are also significant, with 24.9% of residents aged 15+ holding advanced diplomas (11.5%) or certificates (13.4%).

Educational participation is high in the area, with 33.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.7%), secondary education (11.4%), and tertiary education (5.8%).

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

Forestville-Killarney Heights has 60 active public transport stops, served by 59 routes offering 4,074 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents living an average of 252 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 84%, followed by bus at 7% and walking at 4%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling, above the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 56.5% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 582 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 67 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Forestville - Killarney Heights shows excellent health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 72% of the total population (9,758 people) have private health cover, which is higher than Greater Sydney's 59.9%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 6.5% and 6.3% of residents respectively. Around 74.5% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, comparable to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. The area has 18.6% of residents aged 65 and over (2,506 people), higher than Greater Sydney's 15.4%. While health outcomes among seniors are strong, they rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Forestville - Killarney Heights was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forestville-Killarney Heights, surveyed in 2016, had 25.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home. In the same year, 34.1% of residents were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 53.2%.

Judaism, at 0.8%, was similarly represented compared to Greater Sydney's 0.8%. English ancestry dominated at 25.0%, higher than the regional average of 19.0%. Australian ancestry followed at 21.2%. Other ancestry made up 13.2%. French ancestry was notably higher at 2.6% (regional: 0.5%), South African at 1.0% (regional: 0.5%), and Croatian at 0.9% (regional: 0.7%).

Forestville - Killarney Heights's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Forestville-Killarney Heights is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 15-24 are prominent at 16.6%, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 5.0% compared to Greater Sydney. Between 2021 and present, the population of those aged 15-24 has increased from 13.3% to 16.6%, while the 55-64 age group has risen from 11.9% to 12.9%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 16.8% to 15.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Forestville-Killarney Heights' age structure. The 65-74 age cohort is projected to increase by 420 people (40%), from 1,048 to 1,469. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 91% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.