Forest Lodge

Population growth drivers in Forest Lodge are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Forest Lodge as of November 2025 is around 5,322. This reflects an increase of 357 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,965 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,312 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest Estimated Resident Population (ERP) data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional nine validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 11,826 persons per square kilometer, placing Forest Lodge in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 7.2% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 6.7%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for Forest Lodge was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each Small Area (SA2) area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the 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. Over this period, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with Forest Lodge's population expected to reduce by 48 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to grow by 114 people.

The level of residential development activity in Forest Lodge is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Forest Lodge has seen approximately 15 residential properties granted approval annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, about 79 homes were approved, with an additional 10 approved in FY-26. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is around $1,105,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This year, Forest Lodge has registered $47.3 million in commercial approvals, suggesting significant local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney and nationally, Forest Lodge shows lower construction activity per person, placing it among the 8th percentile of areas assessed. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity is predominantly townhouses or apartments (89%), with a minority of detached dwellings (11%). The area has around 2636 people per approval, indicating maturity and established status.

Population projections suggest stability or decline, which should reduce housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones are New Sydney Fish Market, Cowper Street Social Housing Development, Elger Street Social Housing, and Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe. The following list details those considered 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.

Forest Lodge has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Forest Lodge has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector prominent. Its unemployment rate was 5.7% as of June 2025.

Over the past year, employment stability was relatively high. As of June 2025, 3401 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.2%, 1.5 percentage points higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation in Forest Lodge was 74.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Dominant employment sectors included professional & technical, education & training, and health care & social assistance.

The area showed strong specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share of 180% of the regional level, but lower representation in construction at 3.8%, compared to the regional average of 8.6%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 0.2% while labour force grew by 0.6%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.6% and labour force growth of 2.9%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that Forest Lodge's employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

In Forest Lodge, the median income among taxpayers was $77,124 during financial year 2022, with an average level of $117,127. These figures are notably high compared to national averages and those in Greater Sydney ($56,994 and $80,856 respectively). By September 2025, adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 12.61%, estimated median income would be approximately $86,849 and average income around $131,897. Census data shows that Forest Lodge's incomes rank highly nationally, between the 88th and 97th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The largest income segment consists of 31.7% earning over $4,000 weekly (1,687 residents), differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 30.9%. A substantial 43.4% earn above $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 21.0% of income, yet disposable income remains at the 81st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Forest Lodge features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forest Lodge's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 3.5% houses and 96.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Sydney metro's figures of 2.3% houses and 97.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forest Lodge stood at 17.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.1% and rented ones at 62.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,033, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,705. Median weekly rent in Forest Lodge was $590, compared to Sydney metro's $550. Nationally, Forest Lodge's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forest Lodge features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 55.7% of all households, including 19.5% that are couples with children, 28.6% that are couples without children, and 6.5% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 44.3%, with lone person households comprising 35.8% and group households comprising 8.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Sydney average of 1.9.

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

Forest Lodge has a notably high level of educational attainment among its residents aged 15 and above. 66.4% of these residents hold university qualifications, significantly surpassing the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This advantage is driven by a high proportion of Bachelor degrees (38.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (23.9%). Vocational pathways also contribute to this figure, with advanced diplomas making up 9.1% and certificates 7.6%.

Educational participation in the area is also notably high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.9% in tertiary education, 5.7% in primary education, and 3.0% pursuing secondary education. The educational provision in Forest Lodge includes Forest Lodge Public School and GOAL College, serving a total of 545 students as of the latest data. The area's socio-educational conditions are above average, with an ICSEA score of 1094. Educational capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 10.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 7.7, indicating that Forest Lodge serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Forest Lodge has 12 operational public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by 19 different routes that collectively facilitate 5,905 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents located an average of 107 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 843 daily trips across all routes, equating to roughly 492 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forest Lodge's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Forest Lodge exhibits excellent health outcomes, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (3,887 people), compared to 69.7% in Greater Sydney and 55.3% nationally. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.4 and 7.3% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 77.2%, report being completely free from medical ailments, comparable to the 77.4% in Greater Sydney. The area has 9.3% (494 people) aged 65 and over, with seniors exhibiting strong health outcomes, largely aligned with the general population's health profile.

Forest Lodge 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 Lodge has a high level of cultural diversity, with 27.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 42.6% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Forest Lodge, comprising 26.9% of people. Judaism, however, is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.5% of Forest Lodge's population versus 1.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.6%), Australian (16.0%), and Other (12.5%). Notably, French (1.0%) and Russian (0.7%) are overrepresented in Forest Lodge compared to regional figures of 1.1% and 0.8%, respectively.

Forest Lodge hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Forest Lodge's median age is 34 years, which is lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Forest Lodge has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (25.3%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 11.8% to 14.7%, while the proportion of those aged 75 to 84 has risen from 2.1% to 3.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 9.4% to 8.3%. Population forecasts for Forest Lodge in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 59%, adding 100 residents and reaching a total of 271. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 76% of population growth, highlighting the trend towards an aging population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age cohorts.