Forest Hill vs Vermont South

Forest Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Vermont South. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Vermont South, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Vermont South: a median of $1.49 million, against $1.23 million in Forest Hill, and rent is higher there too. Forest Hill is closer to the city centre: 26.1 km, against 29.6 km. On these figures, Forest Hill tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Vermont South suits couples.

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

Vermont South

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 59%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 72%)

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 $850,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,225,000 vs $1,494,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($396/wk vs $496/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (30 min vs 35 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (26.1 km vs 29.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Forest Hill has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 12%)
  • Vermont South carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Forest Hill returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 3.0%)
  • Vermont South returns a higher gross yield on units (5.2% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Forest Hill and Vermont South 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 Vermont South
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 Vermont South
Walkability 92 / 89
Forest Hill — Walkability: 92/100 Vermont South — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 27 / 39
Forest Hill — Safety: 27/100 Vermont South — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Forest Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Vermont South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 79 / 39
Forest Hill — Low flood risk: 79/100 Vermont South — Low flood risk: 39/100

Demographics

Vermont South rents higher ($496/wk vs $396/wk); Vermont South has higher household incomes ($101,088 vs $86,216).

Forest Hill Vermont South
Population 10,780 11,954
+11% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +2.4%
Median age 42 46
Median household income $86,216/yr $101,088/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $396/wk $496/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forest Hill Vermont South
0-4 5.1% / 3.8%
Forest Hill — 0-4: 5.1% Vermont South — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 11.2% / 11.0%
Forest Hill — 5-14: 11.2% Vermont South — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 5.4% / 5.9%
Forest Hill — 15-19: 5.4% Vermont South — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.7% / 6.7%
Forest Hill — 20-24: 5.7% Vermont South — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 11.3% / 9.2%
Forest Hill — 25-34: 11.3% Vermont South — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 14.1% / 11.0%
Forest Hill — 35-44: 14.1% Vermont South — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 13.5% / 13.2%
Forest Hill — 45-54: 13.5% Vermont South — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 11.8% / 12.4%
Forest Hill — 55-64: 11.8% Vermont South — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 9.8% / 13.8%
Forest Hill — 65-74: 9.8% Vermont South — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 7.9% / 8.9%
Forest Hill — 75-84: 7.9% Vermont South — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 4.2% / 4.1%
Forest Hill — 85+: 4.2% Vermont South — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.1%).

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%
Vermont South 57.9% couple families
Vermont South — Couple Families: 57.9% Vermont South — Lone Person: 23.7% Vermont South — One Parent Families: 14.0% Vermont South — Group Household: 3.0% Vermont South — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Vermont South 14.6% renting
Vermont South — Owned Outright: 50.9% Vermont South — Mortgage: 34.6% Vermont South — Renting: 14.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forest Hill Vermont South
Bachelor Degree 19.9% / 20.3%
Forest Hill — Bachelor Degree: 19.9% Vermont South — Bachelor Degree: 20.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 9.7%
Forest Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Vermont South — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.8%
Forest Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Vermont South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 7.1%
Forest Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% Vermont South — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.7%
Forest Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Vermont South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

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 Vermont South
China 11.2% / 14.2%
Forest Hill — China: 11.2% Vermont South — China: 14.2%
Malaysia 3.3% / 4.2%
Forest Hill — Malaysia: 3.3% Vermont South — Malaysia: 4.2%
India 3.3% / 3.4%
Forest Hill — India: 3.3% Vermont South — India: 3.4%
England 1.9% / 2.4%
Forest Hill — England: 1.9% Vermont South — England: 2.4%
Sri Lanka 1.9% / 2.4%
Forest Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.9% Vermont South — Sri Lanka: 2.4%
Vietnam 2.4% / 1.2%
Forest Hill — Vietnam: 2.4% Vermont South — Vietnam: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

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%
Vermont South 88.1% houses
Vermont South — Houses: 88.1% Vermont South — Townhouses: 9.3% Vermont South — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forest Hill Vermont South
Median house price $1,225,000 $1,494,000
Median unit price $690,000 $850,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 93 sales
 26 days
from 123 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 Vermont South
2 bed $630K / $637K
Forest Hill — 2 bed: $630K (26 sales) Vermont South — 2 bed: $637K (7 sales)

26 vs 7 sales

3 bed $950K / $985K
Forest Hill — 3 bed: $950K (9 sales) Vermont South — 3 bed: $985K (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 Vermont South
3 bed $1.12M / $1.3M
Forest Hill — 3 bed: $1.12M (77 sales) Vermont South — 3 bed: $1.3M (23 sales)

77 vs 23 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.46M
Forest Hill — 4 bed: $1.34M (71 sales) Vermont South — 4 bed: $1.46M (109 sales)

71 vs 109 sales

5 bed $1.43M / $1.66M
Forest Hill — 5 bed: $1.43M (19 sales) Vermont South — 5 bed: $1.66M (44 sales)

19 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Forest Hill Vermont South
Residential 78% 68%
Parks and recreation 8% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 7%
same for both
Commercial 6% 2%
Other and special use 0% 1%
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 Vermont South
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 Vermont South
Houses 3.5%
$750/wk on $1.1M
 3.0%
$830/wk on $1.42M
Units 4.5%
$560/wk on $645K
 5.2%
$650/wk on $645K

Ranking within VIC

Forest Hill Vermont South
House price Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Income Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 68% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC

Liveability

Forest Hill Vermont South
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 72/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Vermont South carries more flood risk (61 vs 21); Forest Hill carries more crime risk (73 vs 61).

Forest Hill Vermont South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood Low
21/100
 Moderate
61/100
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 Vermont South
Inside the suburb 1 6
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 5.4 km
 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 3.9%

Schools in Forest Hill

  • Parkmore Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Vermont South

  • Livingstone Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Weeden Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Emmaus College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Emmaus College - Junior School Catholic · Combined
  • Holy Saviour Parish School Catholic · Primary
  • Vermont South Special School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Forest Hill Vermont South
Supermarkets 5 3
Cafes & restaurants 11 8
Parks & reserves 14
same for both
Childcare 10
same for both
GPs 4
same for both
Pharmacies 5 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 4 3
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Vermont South sits further from the CBD (29.6 km vs 26.1 km).

Forest Hill Vermont South
Walkability score 92/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 26.1 km 29.6 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 35 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 209.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 225.8
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 3133
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3131
 37
postcode 3133

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 Vermont South
Car (driver) 52.1% / 53.8%
Forest Hill — Car (driver): 52.1% Vermont South — Car (driver): 53.8%
Worked from Home 38.0% / 37.5%
Forest Hill — Worked from Home: 38.0% Vermont South — Worked from Home: 37.5%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.7%
Forest Hill — Car (passenger): 3.5% Vermont South — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 3.3% / 2.7%
Forest Hill — Train: 3.3% Vermont South — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.7%
Forest Hill — Walked Only: 1.7% Vermont South — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 1.1% / 1.1%
Forest Hill — Bus: 1.1% Vermont South — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.8%).

Setting

Forest Hill Vermont South
Elevation 119 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 99 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.3 km 18.2 km

NBN connectivity

Forest Hill Vermont South
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
5,062 premises
 3%
4,718 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Forest Hill Vermont South
Division Deakin
same for both
Member Matt Gregg
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Forest Hill Vermont South
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

Vermont South

Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet Retirees Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forest Hill

Forest Hill vs Blackburn Forest Hill vs Nunawading Forest Hill vs Vermont Forest Hill vs Blackburn South Forest Hill vs Burwood East

Other comparisons with Vermont South

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