Forrestfield

Forrestfield has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

According to evaluations of ABS demographics data for the wider region, combined with recent address records confirmed by AreaSearch post-Census, the suburb of Forrestfield has an estimated residency of 15,153 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,972 residents (15.0%) from the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 13,181 individuals. This trend is calculated from a local population base of 15,104, calculated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP publication, alongside 108 newly confirmed addresses since the Census date. The population size yields a density of 887 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical values calculated by AreaSearch across comparable locations. The 15.0% expansion rate in the suburb of Forrestfield since the 2021 Census was higher than the national benchmark of 9.3% and the broader SA3 district, placing it among the region's top growth areas. Local demographic growth was heavily supported by arrivals from abroad, accounting for roughly 39.0% of the total population increases in recent times, though interstate moves and natural increases also remained positive.

Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are applied to each SA2 region. In cases where this data is unavailable, or to model trends past 2032, growth calculations are based on age-cohort expansion rates from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital projections utilizing 2022 figures. Looking at future trends in the suburb of Forrestfield, demographic growth is expected to exceed the national median, with local numbers projected to rise by 1,966 individuals by 2041 under consolidated SA2 models, representing a 12.7% total increase across the 16 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Forrestfield when compared nationally

Calculations based on ABS building approvals indicate that Forrestfield averages approximately 64 residential approvals per year, totaling about 321 new homes over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, 25 approvals have been registered. With an average of 4.8 individuals relocating to the community for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, demand is running ahead of supply, creating upward pressure on pricing and increasing buyer rivalry, while construction costs average $387,000, indicating that developers are focusing on higher-end, premium houses. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $27.8 million this financial year, showing a moderate rate of business-related construction.

Relative to Greater Perth, construction activity in Forrestfield is somewhat higher, tracking 20.0% above the regional per capita benchmark over the 5 year period, offering buyers options while underpinning established property prices, though construction momentum has slowed recently. New building work consists of 96.0% stand-alone houses and 4.0% semi-detached options or units, preserving the traditional low-density residential environment favored by families. A ratio of 499 individuals per single dwelling approval points to a quiet construction climate with low overall building volume.

Long-term demographic forecasts show that Forrestfield is on track to add 1,917 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Housing construction is progressing at a reasonable rate relative to this growth, though incoming residents may face heightened competition as the population expands.

Forrestfield has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development strategies are key drivers of regional outcomes. AreaSearch has tracked 23 projects expected to influence the local area. Key initiatives include the Hartfield Park Master Plan Stage 2: Co-Location, the Forrestfield/High Wycombe Industrial Area, the Tonkin Highway Corridor - Roe Highway to Kelvin Road, and the Forrestfield North District Structure Plan, with relevant details provided below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Forrestfield remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Forrestfield is characterized by a balanced labor market featuring a mix of professional and industrial occupations, with manufacturing and industrial sectors playing a key role, an unemployment rate of 4.6%, and an estimated 1.2% job growth over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 8,346, while the jobless rate was 0.4% higher than the Greater Perth average of 4.2%, and labor participation closely matched the metropolitan benchmark of 70.2%. Census figures show that a small proportion of residents, 5.6%, worked from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are healthcare and social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The community is highly specialized in transport, postal, and warehousing jobs, with a employment share that is 2.1 times the metropolitan average. Conversely, professional and technical services are underrepresented, accounting for 4.7% of local workers compared to 8.2% across Greater Perth. Although there are local employers, comparison of local job counts to the working population suggests a high level of outward commuting.

According to SALM and ABS data assessments over the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 1.2% while the active labor force grew by 2.2%, leading to a 0.9 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same span, Greater Perth recorded employment growth of 2.0% and labor force growth of 2.5%, with the jobless rate rising by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide context for local demand. These five and ten-year projections have been aligned with local industry profiles to estimate employment trajectories. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment among residents could rise by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Based on ATO postcode data released for the 2023 financial year, the suburb of Forrestfield's median taxpayer income is $52,774, with an average of $61,848. These figures sit below the national averages, and compare to a median of $60,748 and average of $80,248 across Greater Perth. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index rise of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, estimated figures as of March 2026 are approximately $58,542 for the median and $68,608 for the average. Census records place local household, family, and individual incomes in a modest band between the 42nd and 51st percentiles. Income distribution shows that 35.0% of the local population (5,303 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is similar to the broader metropolitan distribution of 32.0%. Housing affordability presents a notable challenge, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, placing the area in the 41st percentile.

Forrestfield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

At the time of the latest Census, the housing mix in Forrestfield consisted of 88.6% detached houses and 11.5% alternative housing types such as duplexes, townhouses, and apartments, compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative types across metropolitan Perth. Home ownership rates matched the wider metropolitan average of 29.0%, with the remaining properties either under mortgage (47.7%) or occupied by renters (23.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the Perth average at $1,733, while the median weekly rent was equal to the metropolitan figure of $350, compared to regional averages of $1,907 and $350 respectively. On a national level, mortgage costs in the area are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rent payments are below the countrywide figure of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 70.0%, consisting of 28.8% couples raising children, 27.0% couples without children, and 13.1% single-parent homes. The remaining 30.0% are non-family households, with single-person households at 26.6% and shared group accommodation making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.5 individuals, which is slightly lower than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in Forrestfield fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational attainment levels show a lower rate of university degrees, with 15.5% of residents holding a tertiary qualification compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 11.6% of the population, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.5% and graduate diplomas at 1.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are common, with 42.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding credentials, including 10.1% with advanced diplomas and 32.1% with certificates.

Enrolment rates are strong, with 26.8% of local residents participating in structured education. This comprises 9.9% in primary schooling, 7.3% in high school programs, and 3.4% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transit infrastructure includes 106 active bus stops within Forrestfield. These locations are served by 5 distinct routes, delivering a combined total of 771 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is rated favorably, with homes averaging a distance of 233 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the area's residential nature, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 90%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.6 cars per household. A small proportion of residents, 5.6%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect the pandemic conditions at that time.

Bus services average 110 runs per day across the network, representing about 7 weekly runs for each individual stop. The associated map displays the 100 closest transit stops relative to the center of the area.

Health performance in Forrestfield is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health indicators highlight some challenges in Forrestfield, based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality patterns and chronic illness. Health concerns are present across age groups, and private health insurance coverage is relatively low, held by approximately 52% of the population (~7,843 people). This compares to a coverage rate of 59.0% across Greater Perth.

The most prevalent health issues reported were mental health conditions and arthritis, affecting 8.8 and 7.8% of the population, respectively, while 67.7% of residents reported having no chronic conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Health status among working-age individuals is generally typical. Residents aged 65 and over represent 18.7% of the community (2,833 people), exceeding the Greater Perth share of 16.1%. Senior health outcomes show some challenges, with national comparative rankings aligning with the wider population.

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

Forrestfield exhibits higher levels of cultural diversity than most comparable markets, with 15.3% of residents using a non-English language at home and 30.5% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 43.0% of the community. Islam represents a notable local faith group at 3.1% of the population, which is close to the Greater Perth proportion of 3.2%.

Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages reported are English at 30.1%, Australian at 24.9%, and Other at 9.9%. Certain backgrounds are more common here than across the wider region, with New Zealand ancestry at 1.2% (compared to 0.8% regionally), Maori ancestry at 1.2% (compared to 0.9% regionally), and Dutch ancestry at 1.7% (compared to 1.5% regionally).

Forrestfield's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age of residents is 38 years, which is close to the metropolitan average of 37 and matches the national median of 38. Compared to Greater Perth, there is a higher proportion of residents in the 65 - 74 bracket (10.0%) and a smaller share in the 25 - 34 bracket (13.6%). Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 11.1% to 13.0%, while the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 5.0% to 6.2%. In contrast, the 0 to 4 group shrank from 6.4% to 5.3%. Projections to 2041 indicate demographic shifts, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to increase by 67% (633 people), growing from 939 to 1,573. This aging trend is notable, with seniors aged 65 and over accounting for 57% of total projected population growth, while the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 brackets are projected to shrink.