Forrest (ACT)

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

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Forrest (ACT) is estimated at around 1,961 people. This reflects an increase of 134 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,827 people. The change was inferred from the resident population estimate of 1,961 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,127 persons per square kilometer. Forrest's population growth of 7.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 6.7%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 84.0% 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 years post-2032 and areas not covered by this data, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Forrest (ACT) is expected to grow by 293 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 15.3% in total over the 17 years.

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

Forrest has averaged approximately eight new dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 40 homes were approved, with three more approved so far in FY26. Each year, an average of three new residents per dwelling have been recorded since FY21, indicating steady demand.

The average construction cost for new dwellings is $946,000, reflecting a focus on the premium segment. In FY26, $21.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting moderate commercial development levels. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forrest has 53.0% lower building activity per person. Recent construction comprises 44.0% detached houses and 56.0% townhouses or apartments, promoting higher-density living and affordability for various buyer types. With around 302 people per dwelling approval, Forrest exhibits a developing market.

AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Forrest to add 301 residents by 2041, with construction growth maintaining a reasonable pace despite increasing competition as population grows.

Forrest has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely to impact this area: Kingston Arts Precinct, Griffith-Narrabundah Community Centre & Oval Upgrade, Yarra Rossa, and Cromwell Office Building Development. The following details projects likely to have the most relevance.

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Employment conditions in Forrest rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Forrest has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 0.7% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 0.9%. As of September 2025, 1,231 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.8% below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation was 69.7%, compared to ACT's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 19.3% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors were public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical had particularly notable concentration, at 1.4 times the regional average.

Accommodation & food was under-represented, with only 2.7% of Forrest's workforce compared to ACT's 6.5%. There were 2.5 workers per resident as of the Census. Employment levels increased by 0.9% and labour force by 1.2% during September 2024-September 2025, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.4%, labour force growth of 1.2%, and a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Forrest's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Forrest's employment mix.

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

The median taxpayer income in Forrest is $98,598, with an average of $160,235, according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This places Forrest among the top percentile nationally. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory has a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $107,728 (median) and $175,073 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Forrest rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 99th and 99th percentiles. Income analysis shows that 42.0% of locals (823 people) fall into the $4000+ category, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 34.3%. Forrest demonstrates significant affluence, with 54.2% earning over $3,000 per week. After housing costs, residents retain 89.4% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

As evaluated in the latest Census, dwelling structures in Forrest comprised 36.5% houses and 63.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forrest was at 38.2%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (31.3%) or rented (30.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forrest was $2,520, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Forrest was recorded at $570, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Forrest's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forrest features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.2% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 37.0% couples without children, and 4.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.8%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Forrest's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 64.6% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage positions Forrest strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 32.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (25.3%) and graduate diplomas (7.2%).

Technical qualifications represent 14.4% of educational achievements, with advanced diplomas at 7.9% and certificates at 6.5%. Educational participation is notably high, with 25.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.6% in tertiary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing primary education.

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

Forrest has 13 active public transport stops, all providing bus services. These stops are served by 36 different routes, facilitating a total of 2,679 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in Forrest is rated as good, with residents living an average of 301 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards from this primarily residential area. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 70% of residents, while 18% walk and 4% cycle to their destinations. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Forrest.

According to the 2021 Census, some 19.3% of Forrest's residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 382 trips per day, equating to approximately 206 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Forrest demonstrates excellent health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 90% of Forrest's total population (1,773 people), compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.8% and 7.8% of residents respectively. 68.9% of Forrest's residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes for the under-65 population were better than average. The area had 27.4% of residents aged 65 and over (537 people), higher than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Forrest was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Forrest's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 25.9% born overseas and 20.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forrest as of 2016, making up 49.0% of its population. However, Judaism stood out as being overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory, comprising 0.8% of Forrest's population against the regional average of 0.2%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups in Forrest were English (23.7%), Australian (20.2%), and Irish (10.5%). Notably, Polish, French, and Scottish ethnicities also showed significant representation: Polish at 1.4% compared to 0.8%, French at 1.1% against 0.5%, and Scottish at 9.6% versus 7.3%.

Forrest hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Forrest is 48 years, which is notably higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and also exceeds the national median of 38 years. The 55-64 age cohort is significantly over-represented in Forrest at 16.4%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 12.9% and the national figure of 11.2%. Conversely, the 5-14 year-old group is under-represented at 6.6%. Since the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the population percentage for the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 8.1% to 10.4%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has risen from 14.7% to 16.4%. Meanwhile, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 15.4% to 12.0%, and the 5-14 year-old population has dropped from 8.9% to 6.6%. By 2041, Forrest's population is projected to see substantial changes. The 65 to 74 age cohort is expected to expand by 124 people, from 278 to 403, an increase of 45%. This aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 65% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.