Forest Hill vs Burwood East

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Burwood East, about half of households are couple families. Burwood East is closer to the city centre: 19.5 km, against 26.1 km.

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

Burwood East

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (25 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forest Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($396/wk vs $439/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Burwood East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (19.5 km vs 26.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Forest Hill Burwood East
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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
Walkability 92 / 93
Forest Hill — Walkability: 92/100 Burwood East — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 27 / 24
Forest Hill — Safety: 27/100 Burwood East — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Forest Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Burwood East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 79 / 81
Forest Hill — Low flood risk: 79/100 Burwood East — Low flood risk: 81/100

Demographics

Burwood East rents higher ($439/wk vs $396/wk).

Forest Hill Burwood East
Population 10,780 10,675
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +3.9%
Median age 42 41
Median household income $86,216/yr
+3% vs other
 $83,720/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk $439/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forest Hill Burwood East
0-4 5.1% / 4.0%
Forest Hill — 0-4: 5.1% Burwood East — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 11.2% / 9.7%
Forest Hill — 5-14: 11.2% Burwood East — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 5.4% / 4.8%
Forest Hill — 15-19: 5.4% Burwood East — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.7% / 7.7%
Forest Hill — 20-24: 5.7% Burwood East — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 11.3% / 14.9%
Forest Hill — 25-34: 11.3% Burwood East — 25-34: 14.9%
35-44 14.1% / 12.7%
Forest Hill — 35-44: 14.1% Burwood East — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 13.5% / 12.8%
Forest Hill — 45-54: 13.5% Burwood East — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.8% / 11.1%
Forest Hill — 55-64: 11.8% Burwood East — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 9.8% / 9.5%
Forest Hill — 65-74: 9.8% Burwood East — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 7.9% / 9.3%
Forest Hill — 75-84: 7.9% Burwood East — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 4.2% / 3.5%
Forest Hill — 85+: 4.2% Burwood East — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Burwood East 45.8% couple families
Burwood East — Couple Families: 45.8% Burwood East — Lone Person: 30.7% Burwood East — One Parent Families: 14.9% Burwood East — Group Household: 6.9% Burwood East — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Forest Hill 26.6% renting
Forest Hill — Owned Outright: 39.5% Forest Hill — Mortgage: 33.9% Forest Hill — Renting: 26.6%
Burwood East 26.7% renting
Burwood East — Owned Outright: 44.2% Burwood East — Mortgage: 29.1% Burwood East — Renting: 26.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forest Hill Burwood East
Bachelor Degree 19.9% / 21.2%
Forest Hill — Bachelor Degree: 19.9% Burwood East — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 10.4%
Forest Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Burwood East — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.6%
Forest Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Burwood East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 7.6%
Forest Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% Burwood East — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.2%
Forest Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Burwood East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
China 11.2% / 16.2%
Forest Hill — China: 11.2% Burwood East — China: 16.2%
India 3.3% / 5.0%
Forest Hill — India: 3.3% Burwood East — India: 5.0%
Malaysia 3.3% / 3.5%
Forest Hill — Malaysia: 3.3% Burwood East — Malaysia: 3.5%
Sri Lanka 1.9% / 3.8%
Forest Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.9% Burwood East — Sri Lanka: 3.8%
Greece 1.2% / 3.8%
Forest Hill — Greece: 1.2% Burwood East — Greece: 3.8%
Vietnam 2.4% / 2.2%
Forest Hill — Vietnam: 2.4% Burwood East — Vietnam: 2.2%
England 1.9% / 1.4%
Forest Hill — England: 1.9% Burwood East — England: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Forest Hill 72.0% houses
Forest Hill — Houses: 72.0% Forest Hill — Townhouses: 24.9% Forest Hill — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Burwood East 73.8% houses
Burwood East — Houses: 73.8% Burwood East — Townhouses: 18.1% Burwood East — Flats / Apartments: 8.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forest Hill Burwood East
Median house price $1,225,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price $690,000 $635,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 93 sales
 25 days
from 105 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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
2 bed $630K / $640K
Forest Hill — 2 bed: $630K (26 sales) Burwood East — 2 bed: $640K (47 sales)

26 vs 47 sales

3 bed $950K / $830K
Forest Hill — 3 bed: $950K (9 sales) Burwood East — 3 bed: $830K (8 sales)

9 vs 8 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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
3 bed $1.12M / $1.23M
Forest Hill — 3 bed: $1.12M (77 sales) Burwood East — 3 bed: $1.23M (70 sales)

77 vs 70 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.33M
Forest Hill — 4 bed: $1.34M (71 sales) Burwood East — 4 bed: $1.33M (59 sales)

71 vs 59 sales

5 bed $1.43M / $1.46M
Forest Hill — 5 bed: $1.43M (19 sales) Burwood East — 5 bed: $1.46M (21 sales)

19 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Forest Hill Burwood East
Residential 78% 73%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 11%
Commercial 6% 9%
Parks and recreation 8% 7%
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

Forest Hill Burwood East
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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
Houses 3.5%
$750/wk on $1.1M
 3.1%
$700/wk on $1.18M
Units 4.5%
$560/wk on $645K
 4.8%
$605/wk on $650K

Ranking within VIC

Forest Hill Burwood East
House price Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 61% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC

Liveability

Forest Hill Burwood East
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 75/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Forest Hill Burwood East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 High
76/100
Flood Low
21/100
 Low
19/100
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

Forest Hill Burwood East
Inside the suburb 1 7
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 5.4 km
 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 4.2%

Schools in Forest Hill

  • Parkmore Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Burwood East

  • Burwood East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Burwood Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Forest Hill College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Forest Hill College-Forest Hill Deaf Facility Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Basketball Burwood Independent · Secondary
  • Blackburn English Language School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Forest Hill Burwood East
Supermarkets 5 7
Cafes & restaurants 11 21
Parks & reserves 14 25
Childcare 10 8
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 5 4
Hospitals 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 6 2
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Forest Hill sits further from the CBD (26.1 km vs 19.5 km).

Forest Hill Burwood East
Walkability score 92/100 93/100
Distance to Melbourne 26.1 km
+25% vs other
 19.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 31 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 209.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 260.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3131
 1.9%
postcode 3151
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3131
 31
postcode 3151

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.

Forest Hill Burwood East
Car (driver) 52.1% / 52.8%
Forest Hill — Car (driver): 52.1% Burwood East — Car (driver): 52.8%
Worked from Home 38.0% / 35.3%
Forest Hill — Worked from Home: 38.0% Burwood East — Worked from Home: 35.3%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.3%
Forest Hill — Car (passenger): 3.5% Burwood East — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 3.3% / 2.9%
Forest Hill — Train: 3.3% Burwood East — Train: 2.9%
Bus 1.1% / 1.9%
Forest Hill — Bus: 1.1% Burwood East — Bus: 1.9%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.0%
Forest Hill — Walked Only: 1.7% Burwood East — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.8%).

Setting

Forest Hill Burwood East
Elevation 119 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 129 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.3 km 15.1 km

NBN connectivity

Forest Hill Burwood East
Connectivity score 75/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
5,062 premises
 15%
4,943 premises

Climate

Forest Hill Burwood East
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)

Forest Hill Burwood East
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Forest Hill Burwood East
Division Deakin Chisholm
Member Matt Gregg Carina Garland
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Forest Hill

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses

Burwood East

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

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 Blackburn South

Other comparisons with Burwood East

Burwood East vs Glen Waverley Burwood East vs Mount Waverley Burwood East vs Burwood Burwood East vs Vermont South Burwood East vs Blackburn South
Full data on Forest Hill Full data on Burwood East
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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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