Blackburn South vs Forest Hill

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Blackburn South, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Blackburn South: a median of $1.35 million, against $1.23 million in Forest Hill.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Blackburn South

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 73/100)
  • But Forest Hill has more parks and reserves (14 vs 5)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($690,000 vs $815,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,225,000 vs $1,351,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Forest Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 78/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 78/100)
  • But Blackburn South carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 73/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Forest Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Blackburn South and Forest Hill drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Walkability 78 / 92
Blackburn South — Walkability: 78/100 Forest Hill — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 57 / 27
Blackburn South — Safety: 57/100 Forest Hill — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Blackburn South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Forest Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 79
Blackburn South — Low flood risk: 76/100 Forest Hill — Low flood risk: 79/100

Demographics

Blackburn South has higher household incomes ($96,772 vs $86,216).

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Population 10,939
+1% vs other
 10,780
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4%
same for both
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $96,772/yr
+11% vs other
 $86,216/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+3% vs other
 $396/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
0-4 4.8% / 5.1%
Blackburn South — 0-4: 4.8% Forest Hill — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.6% / 11.2%
Blackburn South — 5-14: 12.6% Forest Hill — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 6.2% / 5.4%
Blackburn South — 15-19: 6.2% Forest Hill — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.8% / 5.7%
Blackburn South — 20-24: 5.8% Forest Hill — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 10.4% / 11.3%
Blackburn South — 25-34: 10.4% Forest Hill — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 13.2% / 14.1%
Blackburn South — 35-44: 13.2% Forest Hill — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 14.4% / 13.5%
Blackburn South — 45-54: 14.4% Forest Hill — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 11.4% / 11.8%
Blackburn South — 55-64: 11.4% Forest Hill — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 9.5% / 9.8%
Blackburn South — 65-74: 9.5% Forest Hill — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 7.2% / 7.9%
Blackburn South — 75-84: 7.2% Forest Hill — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 4.4% / 4.2%
Blackburn South — 85+: 4.4% Forest Hill — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackburn South 48.2% couple families
Blackburn South — Couple Families: 48.2% Blackburn South — Lone Person: 33.2% Blackburn South — One Parent Families: 12.9% Blackburn South — Group Household: 4.1% Blackburn South — Other Families: 1.6%
Forest Hill 44.0% couple families
Forest Hill — Couple Families: 44.0% Forest Hill — Lone Person: 35.4% Forest Hill — One Parent Families: 14.6% Forest Hill — Group Household: 3.9% Forest Hill — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blackburn South 24.7% renting
Blackburn South — Owned Outright: 39.3% Blackburn South — Mortgage: 35.9% Blackburn South — Renting: 24.7%
Forest Hill 26.6% renting
Forest Hill — Owned Outright: 39.5% Forest Hill — Mortgage: 33.9% Forest Hill — Renting: 26.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
China 10.6% / 11.2%
Blackburn South — China: 10.6% Forest Hill — China: 11.2%
India 3.1% / 3.3%
Blackburn South — India: 3.1% Forest Hill — India: 3.3%
Malaysia 2.9% / 3.3%
Blackburn South — Malaysia: 2.9% Forest Hill — Malaysia: 3.3%
Vietnam 2.0% / 2.4%
Blackburn South — Vietnam: 2.0% Forest Hill — Vietnam: 2.4%
England 2.0% / 1.9%
Blackburn South — England: 2.0% Forest Hill — England: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Bachelor Degree 19.8% / 19.9%
Blackburn South — Bachelor Degree: 19.8% Forest Hill — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 8.8%
Blackburn South — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Forest Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.6%
Blackburn South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Forest Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 7.6%
Blackburn South — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% Forest Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 2.5%
Blackburn South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Forest Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackburn South 75.8% houses
Blackburn South — Houses: 75.8% Blackburn South — Townhouses: 16.5% Blackburn South — Flats / Apartments: 7.7%
Forest Hill 72.0% houses
Forest Hill — Houses: 72.0% Forest Hill — Townhouses: 24.9% Forest Hill — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Median house price $1,351,000 $1,225,000
Median unit price $815,000 $690,000
Median land price $1,200,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 91 sales
 24 days
from 93 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
2 bed $665K / $630K
Blackburn South — 2 bed: $665K (14 sales) Forest Hill — 2 bed: $630K (26 sales)

14 vs 26 sales

3 bed $985K / $950K
Blackburn South — 3 bed: $985K (8 sales) Forest Hill — 3 bed: $950K (9 sales)

8 vs 9 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
2 bed $1.27M / $995K
Blackburn South — 2 bed: $1.27M (5 sales) Forest Hill — 2 bed: $995K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.25M / $1.12M
Blackburn South — 3 bed: $1.25M (67 sales) Forest Hill — 3 bed: $1.12M (77 sales)

67 vs 77 sales

4 bed $1.39M / $1.34M
Blackburn South — 4 bed: $1.39M (62 sales) Forest Hill — 4 bed: $1.34M (71 sales)

62 vs 71 sales

5 bed $1.77M / $1.43M
Blackburn South — 5 bed: $1.77M (26 sales) Forest Hill — 5 bed: $1.43M (19 sales)

26 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Residential 84% 78%
Parks and recreation 8%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 6% 7%
Commercial 1% 6%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Blackburn South Forest Hill
New dwellings approved 879
across Whitehorse
same for both
Approvals change year on year +17%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Houses 2.9%
$750/wk on $1.32M
 3.5%
$750/wk on $1.1M
Units 4.3%
$630/wk on $764K
 4.5%
$560/wk on $645K

Ranking within VIC

Blackburn South Forest Hill
House price Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Income Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools Higher than 23% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC

Liveability

Forest Hill is more walkable (92 vs 78); Forest Hill scores higher overall (76 vs 66).

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Grade B A
Score 66/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Forest Hill carries more crime risk (73 vs 43).

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 High
73/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
21/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.3 km
 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 5.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.1%

Schools in Blackburn South

  • Orchard Grove Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Luke the Evangelist School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Aurora School Government · Primary · Special school

Schools in Forest Hill

  • Parkmore Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 2 11
Parks & reserves 5 14
Childcare 9 10
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 0 5
Banks & Bank@Post 2 6
Fuel stations 2 4
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Walkability score 78/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.3 km 26.1 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 209.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3130
 2.5%
postcode 3131
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3130
 28
postcode 3131

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Car (driver) 50.0% / 52.1%
Blackburn South — Car (driver): 50.0% Forest Hill — Car (driver): 52.1%
Worked from Home 40.6% / 38.0%
Blackburn South — Worked from Home: 40.6% Forest Hill — Worked from Home: 38.0%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.5%
Blackburn South — Car (passenger): 3.4% Forest Hill — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 2.6% / 3.3%
Blackburn South — Train: 2.6% Forest Hill — Train: 3.3%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.7%
Blackburn South — Walked Only: 1.8% Forest Hill — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.1%).

Setting

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Elevation 104 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 119 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km 17.3 km

NBN connectivity

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
4,722 premises
 1%
5,062 premises

Climate

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Blackburn South Forest Hill
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Average residential rate $1,516/yr
same for both
Council Whitehorse
same for both

Federal electorate

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Division Menzies Deakin
Member Gabriel Ng Matt Gregg
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blackburn South Forest Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blackburn South

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Urban

Forest Hill

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackburn South

Blackburn South vs Burwood Blackburn South vs Blackburn Blackburn South vs Box Hill Blackburn South vs Burwood East Blackburn South vs Box Hill South

Other comparisons with Forest Hill

Forest Hill vs Blackburn Forest Hill vs Nunawading Forest Hill vs Vermont South Forest Hill vs Vermont Forest Hill vs Burwood East
Full data on Blackburn South Full data on Forest Hill
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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