Forrestdale

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

Forrestdale's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at around 3,771. This figure reflects an increase of 2,744 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,027. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,593 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 119 persons per square kilometer. Forrestdale's growth rate of 267.2% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (9.7%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 growth estimation, AreaSearch uses ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, exceptional growth is predicted for Forrestdale over the period, with an expected expansion of 831 persons to 2041, reflecting a decrease of 41.2% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Forrestdale among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Forrestdale has averaged approximately 170 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 850 homes were approved, with an additional 112 approved in FY-26 to date. Each year, about 0.5 people move to the area for each dwelling built over the past five financial years.

This indicates that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost value of new properties is $403,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $39.2 million, reflecting strong local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Perth, Forrestdale has 1325.0% higher building activity per person, offering buyers ample choice and indicating robust developer confidence in the location. New development primarily consists of detached houses (99.0%) with a small proportion of attached dwellings (1.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

Forrestdale reflects a developing area with approximately 9 people per approval. Despite population projections suggesting stability or decline, reduced housing demand pressures are expected to benefit potential buyers in the future.

Forrestdale has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence regional performance. AreaSearch identified 46 potential impact projects. Key ones are Stockland's Sienna Wood Town Centre, Piara Waters Lifestyle Resort, Forrestdale Business Park East, and Aarya Estate by Satterley. The following list details the most relevant ones.

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 Forrestdale shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Forrestdale has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.4% as of September 2025, lower than Greater Perth's 4.0%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.3%. As of the same date, 772 residents were employed, with a workforce participation rate of 62.4%, below Greater Perth's 65.2%. Key industries for employment among residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction is particularly prominent, employing 1.5 times the regional level.

In contrast, professional & technical services employ only 5.4% of local workers, lower than Greater Perth's 8.2%. The area functions as an employment hub with 3.4 workers per resident at Census time, indicating it hosts more jobs than residents and attracts workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 3.3% while the labour force grew by 3.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Perth where employment rose by 2.9%. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows WA employment contracted by 0.27%, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forrestdale's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Forrestdale's median income among taxpayers in the financial year 2023 was $46,040, with an average income of $54,021. This is lower than Greater Perth's figures of $60,748 and $80,248 respectively. By September 2025, estimates based on a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth suggest median incomes will be approximately $50,469 and average incomes $59,218. According to Census 2021 data, Forrestdale's income distribution is around the national 50th percentile. The $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominated with 33.3% of residents (1,255 people). After housing costs, 86.2% of income remained for other expenses.

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

Forrestdale's residential structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 98.8% houses and 1.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Perth metro's 90.0% houses and 10.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forrestdale was at 32.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 48.6% and rented ones at 18.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, lower than Perth metro's $1,750. The median weekly rent figure in Forrestdale was $350, higher than Perth metro's $305. Nationally, Forrestdale's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 76.3% of all households, including 33.9% couples with children, 29.1% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.7%, with lone person households at 20.6% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.8.

Educational attainment in Forrestdale aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 16.8%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 12.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (31.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 2.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forrestdale's public transport system operates 11 active stops, all serving buses. These are covered by four distinct routes, offering a total of 829 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy limited transport accessibility, with an average distance of 896 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency averages 118 trips across all routes, translating to around 75 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Forrestdale are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Forrestdale's health indicators show below-average results, with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 49% of Forrestdale's total population (~1,834 people) has private health cover, compared to 54.4% in Greater Perth and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.2% of residents) and mental health issues (7.7%), while 69.0% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.1% in Greater Perth.

Forrestdale has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 15.8% (595 people), compared to the 12.8% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

In terms of cultural diversity, Forrestdale records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Forrestdale's cultural diversity was above average, with 9.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 24.8% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forrestdale at 50.2%, compared to Greater Perth's 42.7%. The top three ancestral groups were English (33.5%), Australian (25.1%), and Scottish (8.3%).

Notably, Dutch (3.9%) and South African (2.3%) groups were overrepresented in Forrestdale, as was New Zealand (1.4%).

Forrestdale's median age exceeds the national pattern

Forrestdale's median age at 41 years is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 and slightly above Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, Forrestdale has a notably higher percentage of 55-64 year-olds (14.0%) and a lower percentage of 25-34 year-olds (7.8%). Post-2021 Census, the 5-14 age group increased from 13.1% to 14.0%, while the 25-34 cohort decreased from 12.3% to 7.8% and the 0-4 group fell from 6.0% to 3.3%. By 2041, Forrestdale's age profile is expected to change significantly. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 43%, adding 20 residents to reach 70. Residents aged 65 and older will represent all anticipated population growth, while the 75-84 and 0-4 cohorts are projected to decline in population.