Forest Hill

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

Forest Hill's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 11,248. This figure represents a growth of 468 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,780. The increase is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 11,213 in June 2024 and an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,763 persons per square kilometer, placing Forest Hill in the upper quartile compared to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 4.3% growth since the census is within 0.5 percentage points of the SA3 area (4.8%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Forest Hill is expected to increase its population by approximately 1,220 persons, reflecting a total increase of 10.5% over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Forest Hill has averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 220 homes approved during this period and an additional 15 approved in FY26. The average annual population growth associated with these dwellings is zero people per year between FY21 and FY25, indicating 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 homes being built is $507,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

In FY26, commercial development approvals have reached $16.7 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Forest Hill has shown moderately higher new home approvals, averaging 13.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period from FY21 to FY25. This balance between buyer choice and support for current property values is evident in the area's development composition, which consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Forest Hill's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With approximately 226 people per dwelling approval, Forest Hill exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to grow by 1,185 residents through to 2041. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Forest Hill has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 25 projects that could impact the region. Notable initiatives include Forest Ridge, Healesville Freeway Reserve Park (ngarrak nakorang wilam park), City Park, and Forest Hill Chase Basketball Stadium. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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 Forest Hill demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Forest Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.6% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.6%.

There were 5,535 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 1.0% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Forest Hill was significantly lower at 60.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 37.1% of residents worked from home.

Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade. Construction employed only 6.6% of local workers, below Greater Melbourne's 9.7%. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on the count of Census working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6% while labour force increased by 0.9%, resulting in a fall in unemployment by 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0%, labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for five and ten-year periods suggest that Forest Hill's employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Forest Hill SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $50,027 and an average income of $63,220 in financial year 2023. This is lower than the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $54,154 (median) and $68,436 (average), based on an 8.25% increase since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, Forest Hill's household income ranks at the 45th percentile ($1,658 weekly), with personal income at the 29th percentile. The earnings profile shows that 29.1% of locals (3,273 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the broader area where 32.8% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability is a significant issue in Forest Hill, with only 83.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 45th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Forest Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 72.0% houses and 28.0% other dwellings. Compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings, Forest Hill had a higher proportion of houses. Home ownership in Forest Hill was at 39.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 34.0% and rented ones at 26.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,123, exceeding Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Forest Hill was $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Forest Hill's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 69.6 percent of all households, including 34.0 percent couples with children, 23.0 percent couples without children, and 11.0 percent single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.4 percent, with lone person households at 27.5 percent and group households comprising 3.0 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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

Forest Hill's residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications (41.2%) compared to Australia (30.4%) and the SA4 region (31.2%). Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 26.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational pathways account for 23.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.3%. Educational participation is high, with 27.9% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.7% in primary, 7.3% in secondary, and 5.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forest Hill has 52 active public transport stops offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These are covered by 16 routes that facilitate 5,611 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 215 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of travel at 85%, while train usage stands at 8%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 37.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 801 trips per day, equating to around 107 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forest Hill's residents are extremely healthy with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Forest Hill based on AreaSearch's assessment as of June 2021. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low among the general population, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 50% of the total population (~5,680 people) had private health cover compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%.

Nationally, this figure stands at 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health issues were the most common medical conditions in Forest Hill, impacting 7.8 and 7.5% of residents respectively, as of June 2021. Conversely, 70.2% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. The under-65 population demonstrated better than average health outcomes. As of June 2021, Forest Hill had 22.8% of residents aged 65 and over (2,560 people), which was higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, but ranked lower nationally than the broader population.

Forest Hill is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forest Hill has a high level of cultural diversity, with 43.8% of its population born overseas and 44.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Forest Hill, comprising 43.9% of its people. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, making up 7.3% of Forest Hill's population compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups in Forest Hill are Chinese (21.0%), English (17.7%), and Australian (17.0%). Some other ethnic groups also show notable differences: Sri Lankan is overrepresented at 1.0%, Greek at 3.6%, and Vietnamese at 1.6%.

Forest Hill's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Forest Hill is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 8.0% of Forest Hill's population, compared to a lower proportion in Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 age group makes up 11.7%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 45 to 54 age cohort has decreased from 13.5% to 12.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic shifts in Forest Hill. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 21%, adding 297 people, reaching a total of 1,720 from the previous figure of 1,422. Notably, the combined population aged 65 and above will account for 53% of Forest Hill's total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.