Forest Lake

Forest Lake is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Forest Lake's population is estimated at around 24,115, reflecting an increase of 1,439 people since the 2021 Census. The ABS ERP estimate for surrounding areas applied to Forest Lake by AreaSearch in June 2024 was 24,033, with an additional 99 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this figure. This results in a population density of 2,465 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Forest Lake has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.7%, outpacing the national average. Overseas migration contributed approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by 3,573 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 18.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Forest Lake recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Forest Lake has averaged approximately 26 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 134 homes. As of FY-26, 1 approval has been recorded. This averages out to around 18.9 new residents arriving per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.

The supply of dwellings is lagging behind demand, which typically leads to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures. New dwellings are developed at an average construction cost value of $487,000, with recent construction comprising 56.0% standalone homes and 44.0% attached dwellings. This reflects a shift towards medium-density options, creating a mix of housing opportunities across different price brackets.

Currently, Forest Lake has around 1974 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Forest Lake is expected to grow by approximately 4438 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Forest Lake 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 20 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Golden Grove Estate, Acacia Doolandella, Pallara Development Project at 78-88 Vied Road, and Forest Lake Shopping Centre ALDI Extension. The following list details those 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.

The labour market in Forest Lake shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Forest Lake has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year (AreaSearch data aggregation).

As of June 2025, 13,471 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.3% lower than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Brisbane at 66.5%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area shows strong specialization in manufacturing with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level, while construction has limited presence at 6.0% compared to the regional 9.0%.

Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, and labour force increased by 0.5%, keeping unemployment broadly flat. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 4.4% and labour force growth of 4.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forest Lake's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Forest Lake's median income among taxpayers was $51,556 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $58,143 during the same period. These figures compare to Greater Brisbane's median and average incomes of $55,645 and $70,520 respectively. As of September 2025, estimated current incomes are approximately $58,769 (median) and $66,277 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Forest Lake cluster around the 54th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 38.5% of residents (9,284 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, consistent with broader regional trends where 33.3% are in the same category. After housing expenses, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. Forest Lake's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Forest Lake's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 94.9% houses and 5.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 0.0% houses and 0.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forest Lake was 25.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 48.0% and rented ones at 26.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,690, matching Brisbane metro's average. Median weekly rent was $390, while Brisbane metro had no data ($0). Nationally, Forest Lake's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Forest Lake features high concentrations of family households, with a median household size of 2.8 people

Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 39.6% couples with children, 24.0% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.2% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.8 people.

The educational profile of Forest Lake exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

University qualification levels in Forest Lake are 27.1%, slightly below the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 32.5% of residents aged 15+, including advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (21.3%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.5% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.2%), secondary (9.5%), tertiary (5.6%). Forest Lake has a robust network of six schools educating approximately 4,590 students. The area shows typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1032) with balanced educational opportunities. Educational provision is split between three primary and three secondary institutions. There are 19.0 school places per 100 residents, indicating strong educational infrastructure serving local and surrounding communities. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Forest Lake has 43 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by seven different routes that together facilitate 2030 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 287 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are approximately 290 daily trips, which equates to about 47 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forest Lake'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 Lake residents show relatively positive health outcomes, with low prevalence rates for common conditions among the general population, though higher than national averages in older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 50% of Forest Lake's total population (~12,115 people) has private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 8.4 and 7.4% of residents respectively, while 70.3% report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Brisbane's 0%. As of 2016, 14.6% (3,520 people) are aged 65 and over, with health outcomes among seniors requiring more attention than the broader population.

Forest Lake 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 Lake has a high level of cultural diversity, with 33.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 39.8% born overseas. The predominant religion in Forest Lake is Christianity, accounting for 46.9% of the population. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Forest Lake at 6.2%, compared to None% across Greater Brisbane.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (23.0%), Australian (19.5%), and Other (12.6%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Samoan is notably higher at 2.6% in Forest Lake compared to None% regionally, Vietnamese is at 6.0% (vs None%), and Maori is at 1.5% (vs None%).

Forest Lake's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Forest Lake's median age is nearly 37 years, closely matching Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and slightly below Australia's median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Forest Lake has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (12.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (11.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75-84 has increased from 4.1% to 4.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has decreased from 15.2% to 14.0%, and those aged 25-34 have fallen from 12.3% to 11.2%. By 2041, Forest Lake's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 83%, adding 959 residents to reach a total of 2,117. Residents aged 65 and above are predicted to drive 55% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are expected to experience population declines.