Glen Forrest

Glen Forrest is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Glen Forrest's population is estimated at around 3,012 people. This reflects an increase of 223 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,789 people. The latest estimate by AreaSearch, based on examination of ERP data released by ABS in June 2024 and validation of six new addresses, is 3,002 residents. This results in a population density ratio of 231 persons per square kilometer. Glen Forrest's growth rate since the Census, at 8.0%, is within 1.7 percentage points of the national average of 9.7%. Most of this growth was driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 61.0% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for areas not covered by the former. By 2041, Glen Forrest is projected to increase by 149 persons, reflecting a gain of 3.9% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Glen Forrest according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Glen Forrest has seen approximately four new homes approved annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Around 20 homes were approved in the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with one additional approval recorded so far in FY-26. On average, these new homes have added about 6.2 new residents per year over the same period.

This demand has outpaced supply, potentially influencing property prices and competition among buyers. The average construction value of new properties is $631,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development. In FY-26, there have been $55,000 in commercial development approvals, suggesting minimal commercial activity compared to residential. Glen Forrest has significantly less development activity than Greater Perth, with 70.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

The area's development level is also lower than the national average, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining Glen Forrest's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes. As of now, there are an estimated 1970 people per dwelling approval in the area. Looking ahead, Glen Forrest is projected to grow by 117 residents by 2041 according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Glen Forrest has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects that are expected to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the City of Swan Water and Wastewater Upgrades, EastLink WA, METRONET High Capacity Signalling Project, and METRONET. The following list provides details on those projects deemed most relevant.

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The labour market strength in Glen Forrest positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Glen Forrest has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.9% as of September 2025, with employment growth estimated at 1.9% over the preceding year.

The area had 1,731 residents employed by September 2025, with an unemployment rate of 2.1%, lower than Greater Perth's 4.0%. Workforce participation was similar to Greater Perth's 65.2%. Key employment sectors included health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Notably, education & training had employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average, while accommodation & food employed only 3.8% of local workers, below Greater Perth's 6.8%.

The area showed limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9%, labour force grew by 2.1%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment (0.2 percentage points). In contrast, Greater Perth experienced higher employment growth (2.9%) and labour force growth (3.0%), with marginal unemployment change. Statewide, WA employment contracted by 0.27% between November 2024 and November 2025, losing 5,520 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Glen Forrest's employment mix indicates potential local employment increases of 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The suburb of Glen Forrest had one of the highest income levels in Australia according to AreaSearch data aggregated from the latest ATO figures for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $57,549 and the average income stood at $82,013, compared to Greater Perth's median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. By September 2025, based on a 9.62% increase from financial year 2023 using the Wage Price Index, estimated incomes would be approximately $63,085 (median) and $89,903 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Glen Forrest's household, family, and personal incomes clustered around the 67th percentile nationally. Income distribution showed that 31.7% of residents (954 people) fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, similar to regional levels where 32.0% occupied this bracket. Economic strength was evident with 31.9% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retained 87.9% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

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

Glen Forrest's housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Perth metro's 94.8% houses and 5.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Glen Forrest stood at 42.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 50.9% and rented ones at 6.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, aligning with Perth metro's average. The median weekly rent was $380, higher than Perth metro's $330. Nationally, Glen Forrest's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Glen Forrest features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 80.0% of all households, including 37.3% couples with children, 31.9% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.0%, with lone person households at 18.5% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Perth average.

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

Glen Forrest's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 32.0% possess university qualifications, exceeding the SA3 area's 21.3% and the SA4 region's 24.3%. This high level of attainment indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 13.6% and certificates at 24.2%. Educational participation is notably high in Glen Forrest, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.3% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 5.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis in Glen Forrest shows 34 active public transport stops operating, all of which are bus stops. These stops are serviced by four different routes that together provide 378 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 414 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 54 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Glen Forrest's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data shows Glen Forrest residents have a relatively positive health status with common conditions seen across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 60% of Glen Forrest's total population (1,799 people) has private health cover, compared to 57.4% in Greater Perth.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.1% and 8.4% of residents respectively. About 68.6% of Glen Forrest residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.2% across Greater Perth. In Glen Forrest, 22.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (680 people), higher than the 21.2% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors in Glen Forrest are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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

Glen Forrest's population, born in Australia, was approximately 73.4%, with 90.5% being citizens, and 94.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 40.1%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% in Greater Perth.

The top three ancestry groups were English (35.9%), Australian (26.3%), and Scottish (8.1%). Notably, Welsh (1.1%) Dutch (2.9%) and French (0.9%) populations were higher than regional averages of 0.9%, 2.0% and 0.5% respectively.

Glen Forrest hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Glen Forrest is 45 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Perth, Glen Forrest has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (14.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.3%). According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 5.9% to 7.5% of Glen Forrest's population, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 15.9% to 14.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Glen Forrest's age structure. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 162%, reaching 213 people from 81, with the combined 65+ age groups accounting for 94% of total population growth. Conversely, both the 25-34 and 0-4 age groups are projected to decrease in number.