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

By May 2026, the estimated population of Forest Hill (NSW) is around 3,227, reflecting a growth of 146 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 4.7% rise from the previous population count of 3,081. AreaSearch's analysis, based on latest ERP data released by ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses, estimated the resident population at 3,192. The population density is approximately 93 persons per square kilometer. Forest Hill's growth exceeded both the SA4 region (2.2%) and the SA3 area during this period. Natural growth contributed around 56% of overall population gains, with all migration factors also being positive.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a 2021 base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to have an above median population growth of national regional areas, expanding by 633 persons and reflecting an 18.5% increase over the 16-year period.

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

Forest Hill has seen approximately 29 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 146 homes. In FY-26 so far, 19 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling accommodates about 2.4 new residents per year. The average construction cost for new dwellings is approximately $451,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $714,000 in commercial development approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of NSW, Forest Hill shows 96% higher construction activity per capita. Recent construction comprises 80% detached dwellings and 20% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's low density character. With around 183 people per dwelling approval, Forest Hill exhibits characteristics of a low density area.

By 2041, Forest Hill is projected to grow by approximately 598 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect 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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The labour market strength in Forest Hill positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Forest Hill has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 1.6%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,805 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4% below Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Forest Hill is high at 73.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses show that only 5.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key employment sectors are 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.

Conversely, education & training is under-represented, with only 4.5% of Forest Hill's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 9.6%. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.4%, alongside a 3.6% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forest Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.4% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending 30 June 2023 shows Forest Hill's median income is $57,154 and average income is $67,222. This compares to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% from financial year ending 30 June 2023 to March 2026, estimated median income is approximately $63,052 and average income is $74,159. The 2021 Census data ranks Forest Hill's personal income at the 71st percentile ($932 weekly) and household income at the 52nd percentile. The earnings profile indicates that 42.5% of residents (1,371 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, aligning with the broader area where this cohort represents 29.9%. After housing costs, 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). In comparison, Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forest Hill was at 18.1%, with the rest either 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 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, while 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 compose 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 account for 22.3%, comprising 19.3% lone person households and 1.8% group households. The median household size is 2.8 people, 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 has lower university qualification rates at 15.0%, significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. 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 account for 11.4% and certificates for 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 serving buses. These stops are covered by 13 different routes that together offer 307 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered excellent, with residents living an average of 158 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 68%, while 26% walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Forest Hill.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 43 trips per day, resulting in 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 notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is higher than average at approximately 54% of the total population (~1,727 people). The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.9 and 9.3% of residents respectively. 71.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 7.2% of residents aged 65 and over (232 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with 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 born in Australia who speak English only at home. The majority religion is Christianity, comprising 49.1%. The most notable overrepresentation is the 'Other' category, which makes up 1.0%, compared to Regional NSW's 0.8%.

Top ancestry groups are Australian (32.0%), English (27.6%), and Scottish (7.0%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Australian Aboriginal is overrepresented at 6.2% (vs regional 4.6%), Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.5%), and South Australian at 0.6% (vs 0.2%).

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

Forest Hill has a median age of 25 years, which is lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Forest Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (25.1%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (4.5%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 12.7%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 5 to 14 has increased from 14.2% to 15.2%, while the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has decreased from 27.5% to 25.1%. Additionally, the percentage of individuals aged 55 to 64 has dropped from 6.5% to 5.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates that Forest Hill's age profile will significantly change. The population aged 25 to 34 is projected to grow steadily, with an increase of 163 people (31%), from 532 to 696 residents.