Forest Lodge

Population growth drivers in Forest Lodge are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Forest Lodge as of Feb 2026 is around 5,333 people. This reflects an increase of 368 people (7.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,965 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,329 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 11,851 persons per square kilometer, which places Forest Lodge in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, making land in the area a highly-sought resource. The suburb's 7.4% growth since census positions it within 0.4 percentage points of the state (7.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for Forest Lodge was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also 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 51 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 recorded approximately 15 residential properties granted approval each year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 78 homes were approved, with an additional 7 approved so far in FY-26. The area has experienced population decline, suggesting that new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering buyers good choice while targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties valued at approximately $1,105,000 on average.

This financial year, Forest Lodge has registered around $453.3 million in commercial approvals, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Sydney, Forest Lodge shows roughly half the construction activity per person and ranks among the 8th percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. New building activity comprises approximately 11.0% detached dwellings and 89.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. Forest Lodge has around 2636 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area with stable or declining population projections, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures benefiting potential buyers.

With population projections showing stability or decline, Forest Lodge should see reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Cowper Street Social Housing Development, Elger Street Social Housing, Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe, and Sydney Metro West - The Bays Station. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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.

Employment performance in Forest Lodge has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Forest Lodge has an educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. The unemployment rate is 6.2%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 3,244 employed residents, with an unemployment rate at 6.2% compared to Greater Sydney's 4.2%.

Workforce participation stands at 72.7%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Census responses indicate that 66.2% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, education & training, and health care & social assistance sectors. The area has a particularly high concentration in professional & technical jobs, at 1.8 times the regional average, while construction employment is lower at 3.8% compared to the regional average of 8.6%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.5%, with employment declining by 1.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force expansion of 2.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 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

Forest Lodge's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The suburb's median income among taxpayers is $77,124 and average income stands at $117,127, compared to Greater Sydney's figures of $60,817 and $83,003 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Forest Lodge would be approximately $83,957 (median) and $127,504 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Forest Lodge, between the 88th and 97th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 31.7% of residents (1,690 people) fall into the $4000+ bracket, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Economic strength is evident through 43.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 21.0% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 81st percentile and 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 a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

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 55.9% houses and 44.1% 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 $2,427. Median weekly rent in Forest Lodge was $590, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Forest Lodge's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 55.7% of all households, including 19.5% couples with children, 28.6% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 44.3%, with lone person households at 35.8% and group households comprising 8.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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, with 66.4% holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the New South Wales (NSW) average of 32.2%. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held by its residents. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 38.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 23.9% and graduate diplomas at 4.2%.

Vocational pathways account for a significant portion as well, with 16.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above. This includes advanced diplomas (9.1%) and certificates (7.6%). Educational participation in the area is 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.

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

Forest Lodge has 22 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 20 different routes, collectively facilitating 6,529 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 106 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 43%, followed by walking (21%) and buses (16%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 66.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes is 932 trips daily, equating to approximately 296 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's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. The area has very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (3,895 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.4 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 77.2%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 10.0% (533 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Forest Lodge was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon 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 main religion in Forest Lodge, comprising 26.9% of people. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 0.5% of Forest Lodge's population versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.6%), Australian (16.0%), and Other (12.5%). Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: French (1.0% vs regional 0.5%), Russian (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%) are overrepresented in Forest Lodge.

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

Forest Lodge's median age is 34 years, lower than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Sydney, Forest Lodge has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (24.6%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, Forest Lodge's population has seen an increase in the 15 to 24 age group from 11.8% to 14.8%, and a rise in the 75 to 84 cohort from 2.1% to 3.5%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 age group has decreased from 25.9% to 24.6%. Population forecasts for Forest Lodge in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the strongest projected growth in the 75 to 84 cohort (48%), adding 90 residents and reaching a total of 277. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 78% of population growth, highlighting aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age groups.