Forest Hill
Statistical Area - sa2

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 was approximately 10,780 people as per the 2021 Census. By November 2025, it had increased to around 11,250, reflecting a growth of 470 people (4.4%) since the Census. This increase is inferred from ABS estimates showing an estimated resident population of 11,213 as of June 2024 and an additional 157 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was calculated at 2,764 persons per square kilometer, placing Forest Hill in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. This growth exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 4.0%, making Forest Hill a growth leader in its region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 released in 2023, adjusted employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA 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 just below the median of national areas, with an expansion of 1,220 persons reflecting a total increase of 10.5% over the 17-year period.

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. During this period, a total of 220 homes were approved, with an additional 11 approved so far in FY26. The average population growth associated with these dwellings has been zero people per year.

This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for future population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost of new homes in Forest Hill is $507,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY26, commercial development approvals have totaled $16.7 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity in the area.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Forest Hill has shown moderately higher new home approvals, averaging 13.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This balance supports both buyer choice and current property values. New development in Forest Hill consists of approximately 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With around 226 people per dwelling approval, Forest Hill exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Population forecasts indicate that Forest Hill will gain approximately 1,183 residents by 2041. Current development activity appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Forest Hill has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Forest Ridge, Healesville Freeway Reserve Park (ngarrak nakorang wilam park), City Park, and Forest Hill Chase Basketball Stadium. The following details those most relevant:.

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

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

Forest Hill has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.5% as of June 2025, which is 1.1% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.1%. As of June 2025, 5,485 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 57.7%, significantly lagging behind Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and retail trade, while construction employs only 6.6% of local workers compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Many Forest Hill residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.1%, labour force increased by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.5%, labour force growth of 4.0%, with unemployment rising 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase in employment over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forest Hill's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Forest Hill had a median taxpayer income of $47,408 and an average of $61,089 in financial year 2022. This was lower than the national averages of $54,892 for median income and $73,761 for average income in Greater Melbourne. By September 2025, estimated incomes were approximately $53,173 (median) and $68,517 (average), based on a 12.16% growth since financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed Forest Hill's household, family, and personal incomes ranked modestly, between the 30th and 45th percentiles. Income distribution revealed that 29.1% of locals (3,273 people) earned between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, similar to the broader area where 32.8% fell into this bracket. Housing affordability was severe, with only 83.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 46th percentile. Forest Hill's SEIFA income ranking placed 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, consisted of 72.0% houses and 28.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 73.0% houses and 26.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forest Hill was at 39.6%, similar to Melbourne metro, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (34.0%) or rented (26.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forest Hill was $2,123, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,200. The median weekly rent figure in Forest Hill was recorded at $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $410. Nationally, Forest Hill's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

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

Family households represent 69.6% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 3.0% 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

Educational attainment in Forest Hill is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of 2021, 41.2% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 31.2% in the SA4 region. 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 among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of 2021. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education. Parkmore Primary School serves Forest Hill, with an enrollment of 142 students as of 2021. The area shows above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1078). There is one school focusing exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas. Local school capacity is limited, with only 1.3 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.4, indicating that many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Forest Hill has 52 active public transport stops. These are a mix of lightrail and bus services. There are 16 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes provide 5,654 passenger trips collectively. Residents have good access to transport, with an average distance of 215 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 807 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 108 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forest Hill's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Forest Hill's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~5,625 people), compared to 54.2% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (7.8%) and mental health issues (7.5%), while 70.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.3% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 22.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,506 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Greater Melbourne.

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, making up 43.9% of the population. However, Buddhism is more prevalent in Forest Hill compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 7.3% versus 5.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (21.0%), English (17.7%), and Australian (17.0%). Notably, Sri Lankan (1.0%), Greek (3.6%), and Vietnamese (1.6%) ethnicities have higher representation in Forest Hill than the regional averages of 0.9%, 2.4%, and 1.3% respectively.

Forest Hill hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Forest Hill is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, which is also older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group has a strong representation at 7.8% compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 12.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group grew from 11.3% to 12.0%, and the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 13.5% to 12.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Forest Hill, with the 45 to 54 group expected to grow by 20%, reaching 1,720 people from 1,428. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 56% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.