Forest Hill (NSW)

Forest Hill lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

The population of the suburb of Forest Hill (NSW) is estimated to be around 3,231 as of Feb 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 150 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,081 people. The change was inferred from the resident population of 3,104 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 109 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 93 persons per square kilometer. Forest Hill's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (4.2%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and overseas migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth of regional areas is projected nationally, with Forest Hill expected to grow by 786 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 20.4% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Forest Hill when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Forest Hill has had approximately 29 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there were 146 approved homes, with another 9 in FY-26 so far. Each new dwelling brings an average of 2.4 new residents annually over the past five years.

The average construction cost for new dwellings is $451,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. This financial year has seen $714,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity compared to residential. Forest Hill has 103.0% more new home approvals per capita than the rest of NSW. The area maintains its traditional low-density character with 80.0% standalone homes and 20.0% medium-high density housing.

There are approximately 185 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low-density market. Forest Hill is forecast to gain 659 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should meet demand comfortably, benefiting buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond projections.

Forest Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to impact the area: Brunslea Park Estate, Riverina Redevelopment Program, Wagga Wagga Airport Infrastructure Upgrades, and Regional Express (Rex) Pilot Academy. The following details those considered most relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Forest Hill ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Forest Hill has a balanced workforce with representation across white and blue-collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented, and the unemployment rate is 1.6%. As of December 2025, 1,850 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation is high at 77.5% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%. Census data shows that 5.6% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Forest Hill has a strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share 5.1 times the regional level.

However, education & training is under-represented, with only 4.5% of Forest Hill's workforce compared to 9.6% in Regional NSW. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.9%, and employment declined by 3.0%, causing unemployment to rise slightly. In comparison, Regional NSW saw a 1.2% decrease in employment, a 0.8% contraction in labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Forest Hill's employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Forest Hill's median income among taxpayers was $57,154 and average was $67,222 in the financial year 2023, according to AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data. This is comparable to national averages of $52,983 median and $70,577 average for the same period. In Regional NSW during this time, the median income was $52,390 with an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,218 median and $73,178 average for Forest Hill. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 71st percentile ($932 weekly) and household income sits at the 52nd percentile in Forest Hill. Income analysis shows that 42.5% of Forest Hill's population (1,373 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 29.9% in the same category. After housing expenses, 86.0% of income remains for other expenses.

Forest Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Forest Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Forest Hill had a home ownership level of 18.1%, with the remaining dwellings being mortgaged (46.0%) or rented (35.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forest Hill was $1,300, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Forest Hill was recorded at $310, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Forest Hill's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Forest Hill features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 77.7% of all households, including 39.6% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 14.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 22.3%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Forest Hill fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 15.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 45.9% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 34.5%. Educational participation is high, with 38.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 12.8% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forest Hill has 32 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together offer 307 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 158 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 68%, while 26% walk. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 43 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Forest Hill is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Forest Hill faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% of residents have private health cover, higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent conditions are asthma (10.9%) and mental health issues (9.3%). Conversely, 71.4% report no medical ailments compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health outcomes are typical. Only 6.8% of residents are aged 65 and over (219 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes present challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Forest Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Forest Hill's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.4% of its population being citizens, 88.2% born in Australia, and 89.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 49.1% of Forest Hill's population. The most significant overrepresentation was observed in the 'Other' category, making up 1.0% compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (32.0%), English (27.6%), and Scottish (7.0%) were the top represented groups. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (6.2%), Welsh (0.7%), and South Australian (0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 4.6%, 0.5%, and 0.2% respectively.

Forest Hill hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Forest Hill's median age at 25 years is notably below the Regional NSW average of 43 and significantly lower than the Australian median of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Forest Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (26.1%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.2%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 25 to 34 has increased from 15.6% to 17.2%, while the 35 to 44 age group has risen from 13.4% to 14.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age cohort has decreased from 6.5% to 5.1%, and the 15 to 24 age group has dropped from 27.5% to 26.1%. Demographic projections suggest Forest Hill's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to grow steadily, adding 182 people (a 33% increase) from 555 to 738 residents.