Frenchs Forest

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of Frenchs Forest as of Feb 2026 is around 14,831. This reflects an increase of 564 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,267 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 14,801 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,695 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's 4.0% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (3.3%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for Frenchs Forest was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 73.0% 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, AreaSearch utilises 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, an above median population growth is projected for Frenchs Forest, with the area expected to increase by 1,849 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 12.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Frenchs Forest, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Frenchs Forest averaged approximately 29 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 146 homes were approved, with a further 23 approved in FY-26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 1.5 people moved to the area per dwelling built. However, this increased to 13 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, indicating growing popularity and potential supply constraints.

Development projects in Frenchs Forest had an average construction value of $950,000, targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This year, there have been $6.8 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Frenchs Forest has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 15th percentile nationally, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. New building activity shows 59.0% standalone homes and 41.0% townhouses or apartments, expanding medium-density options across various price brackets. This shift from the area's existing housing (currently 93.0% houses) indicates decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles seeking more diverse, affordable housing options.

Frenchs Forest has around 1091 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. Future projections estimate an addition of 1,840 residents by 2041, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections despite potential heightened competition as the population grows.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 38 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Forestway Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Belrose Village Green, The Jardin - Stage 1 & 2, and the proposed 146-room hotel at Forest Hotel. The following list details those projects expected to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Frenchs Forest shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Frenchs Forest has a highly educated workforce, with the technology sector being particularly prominent. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 8,084 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Frenchs Forest matches Greater Sydney's 70.0%. According to Census responses, 52.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical (38.6%), health care & social assistance (14.2%), and education & training (11.7%) sectors.

The transport, postal & warehousing sector is under-represented at 2.5%, compared to Greater Sydney's 5.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, indicating local employment opportunities may not fully capture the workforce. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Frenchs Forest's labour force decreased by 0.4% and employment declined by 1.0%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point increase in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Sydney saw employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Frenchs Forest's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Frenchs Forest has one of the highest incomes in Australia. The median income is $62,963 and the average income stands at $94,807. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures where the median income is $60,817 and the average income is $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $68,542 (median) and $103,207 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household incomes rank exceptionally high at the 97th percentile ($3,109 weekly). The earnings profile shows that the largest segment comprises 37.5% earning $4000+ weekly (5,561 residents), contrasting with the broader area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 30.9%. Frenchs Forest demonstrates considerable affluence with 51.7% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consume 16.2% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 96th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Frenchs Forest's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.6% houses and 7.4% 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 Frenchs Forest stood at 37.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 47.1% and rented ones at 15.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,467, exceeding the Sydney metro average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Frenchs Forest was $800, higher than Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Frenchs Forest's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Frenchs Forest features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 86.4% of all households, including 54.3% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 13.6%, with lone person households at 12.3% and group households comprising 1.5%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational achievement in Frenchs Forest places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

The area's educational profile is notable regionally with university qualification rates at 40.1% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and NSW's rate of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 29.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 11.9% while certificates make up 17.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 10.2% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Frenchs Forest has 118 operational public transport stops offering bus services. These are served by 107 routes, facilitating 6,146 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 160 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 86%, while buses account for 6%. The average vehicle ownership is 1.8 per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 52% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Daily service frequency averages 878 trips across all routes, equating to approximately 52 weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops to the location's centerpoint.

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

Frenchs Forest's health outcomes show exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 64% of the total population (9,537 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 6.9 and 6.0% of residents respectively. 75.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Frenchs Forest has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,432 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong and broadly in line with the general population nationally.

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

Frenchs Forest had a higher level of cultural diversity compared to most other local areas, with 17.8% of its residents speaking a language other than English at home and 29.9% being born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Frenchs Forest, making up 54.0% of the population. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented, comprising 0.3% of the population compared to 0.8% across Greater Sydney.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 28.0%, Australian at 23.1%, and Other at 9.8%. These figures were substantially higher than the regional averages for English (19.0%) and Australian (17.8%), but notably lower for Other (16.0%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with French being overrepresented at 1.2% compared to 0.5% regionally, Welsh at 0.9% compared to 0.4%, and South African at 1.0% compared to 0.5%.

Frenchs Forest's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Frenchs Forest is 40, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 45-54 age cohort is notably over-represented locally at 16.4%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 6.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 13.2% to 16.3%, and the 55 to 64 cohort has risen from 11.2% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 16.5% to 15.0%, and the 65 to 74 age group has dropped from 7.8% to 6.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Frenchs Forest's age profile. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 621 people (150%) from 415 to 1,037. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 65% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.