Forest Hill (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Forest Hill reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Forest Hill (Vic.) is around 11,335. This figure reflects an increase of 555 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,780. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 11,298 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, along with an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,771 persons per square kilometer, placing Forest Hill in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for the suburb.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, they utilise the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Forest Hill (Vic.) is expected to increase its population by 1,226 persons, reflecting a total increase of 10.5% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Forest Hill according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Forest Hill has averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 220 homes were approved, with an additional 18 approved in FY-26 to date. Over the past five financial years, there has been an average of zero people moving to the area for each dwelling built, indicating that supply is meeting or exceeding demand.

The average construction cost value of new properties is approximately $659,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This year, commercial approvals totaling $16.7 million have been registered, reflecting balanced commercial development activity in the area.

New development consists predominantly of detached houses (74.0%) and medium to high-density housing (26.0%), maintaining Forest Hill's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited for buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 226 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Forest Hill is projected to grow by 1,189 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-suited to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Forest Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects that may impact this region. Notable projects include Forest Ridge, Healesville Freeway Reserve Park (ngarrak nakorang wilam park), City Park, and Forest Hill Chase Basketball Stadium. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

The employment landscape in Forest Hill shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Forest Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.0% as of an unspecified date. Employment grew by 1.8% over the past year based on AreaSearch data aggregation.

As of December 2025, 5,590 residents were employed and the unemployment rate was 0.8% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 60.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. A high proportion of residents, 37.1%, worked from home according to Census responses, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Key industries for employment among residents were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Construction was under-represented at 6.6% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8%, labour force grew by 1.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points in Forest Hill. This contrasts with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 2.4%, the labour force grew by 2.8%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forest Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Forest Hill suburb has lower income levels than national averages based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median taxpayer income is $47,437 and average income stands at $61,190. Greater Melbourne's figures are $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). Considering Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Forest Hill would be approximately $51,351 (median) and $66,238 (average) by September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household income ranks at the 45th percentile ($1,658 weekly), with personal income at the 29th percentile. Income brackets indicate 29.1% of Forest Hill's population falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 45th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Forest Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forest Hill's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 72.0% houses and 28.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forest Hill stood at 39.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.0% and rented ones at 26.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,123, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent was $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Forest Hill's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were above the national figure of $375.

Forest Hill has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.6% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for 30.4%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Forest Hill's educational attainment exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 41.2% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 23.7%, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forest Hill has 52 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These are served by 16 routes providing 5,611 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good with residents located an average of 215 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential with most commuters traveling outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 85%, while train use stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 37.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 801 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 107 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forest Hill's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Forest Hill's health data shows positive outcomes overall. Mortality rates and health conditions are largely similar to national averages.

Common health conditions are less prevalent among the general population but higher among older, at-risk groups compared to national figures. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of Forest Hill's total population (~5,787 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.8 and 7.5% of residents respectively. 70.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. Forest Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 23.0% (2,607 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Nationally, this percentage ranks lower than the broader population.

Forest Hill is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forest Hill has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.8% of its population born overseas and 44.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Forest Hill, comprising 43.9% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 7.3% of Forest Hill's population versus 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (21.0%), English (17.7%), and Australian (17.0%). Notably, Sri Lankan, Hungarian, and Greek ethnicities have higher representation in Forest Hill than the regional average.

Forest Hill's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Forest Hill is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.1% of the population, compared to a lower prevalence of the 25-34 cohort at 11.8%. According to the post-2021 Census data, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 13.5% to 12.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Forest Hill. Notably, the 45 to 54 cohort is projected to grow by 21%, reaching 1,738 people from its current total of 1,439. The combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 54% of the total population growth, reflecting Forest Hill's aging demographic trend. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.