Forestdale vs Hillcrest

Hillcrest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 43 in Forestdale. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Forestdale, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Forestdale: a median of $1.8 million, against $878,000 in Hillcrest, and rent is higher there too. Hillcrest is closer to the city centre: 30.1 km, against 33.8 km. On these figures, Forestdale tends to suit couples, while Hillcrest suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Forestdale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 87/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 65%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 82%)
  • But Hillcrest has more childcare (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Hillcrest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($672,500 vs $1,700,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($877,500 vs $1,800,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hillcrest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hillcrest

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 23/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (30.1 km vs 33.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hillcrest

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 23/100)
  • But Forestdale carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Hillcrest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.4% vs 1.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Forestdale Hillcrest
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.

Forestdale Hillcrest
Walkability 23 / 64
Forestdale — Walkability: 23/100 Hillcrest — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 49 / 13
Forestdale — Safety: 49/100 Hillcrest — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Forestdale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hillcrest — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Hillcrest has more residents (6,268 vs 2,560); Forestdale has higher household incomes ($139,100 vs $81,796).

Forestdale Hillcrest
Population 2,560 6,268
+145% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.1% +11.4%
Median age 43 33
Median household income $139,100/yr
+41% vs other
 $81,796/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+30% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forestdale Hillcrest
0-4 3.9% / 7.9%
Forestdale — 0-4: 3.9% Hillcrest — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 13.6% / 14.2%
Forestdale — 5-14: 13.6% Hillcrest — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 7.3% / 5.9%
Forestdale — 15-19: 7.3% Hillcrest — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.8% / 7.4%
Forestdale — 20-24: 6.8% Hillcrest — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 8.0% / 16.4%
Forestdale — 25-34: 8.0% Hillcrest — 25-34: 16.4%
35-44 11.7% / 14.5%
Forestdale — 35-44: 11.7% Hillcrest — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 15.3% / 11.5%
Forestdale — 45-54: 15.3% Hillcrest — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 15.7% / 11.4%
Forestdale — 55-64: 15.7% Hillcrest — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 13.6% / 6.5%
Forestdale — 65-74: 13.6% Hillcrest — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 3.5% / 3.0%
Forestdale — 75-84: 3.5% Hillcrest — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 0.4% / 1.1%
Forestdale — 85+: 0.4% Hillcrest — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Forestdale 71.3% couple families
Forestdale — Couple Families: 71.3% Forestdale — Lone Person: 13.8% Forestdale — One Parent Families: 12.6% Forestdale — Group Household: 1.7% Forestdale — Other Families: 0.6%
Hillcrest 44.0% couple families
Hillcrest — Couple Families: 44.0% Hillcrest — Lone Person: 27.2% Hillcrest — One Parent Families: 21.4% Hillcrest — Group Household: 5.4% Hillcrest — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Forestdale 5.8% renting
Forestdale — Owned Outright: 46.1% Forestdale — Mortgage: 48.1% Forestdale — Renting: 5.8%
Hillcrest 40.0% renting
Hillcrest — Owned Outright: 17.9% Hillcrest — Mortgage: 42.0% Hillcrest — Renting: 40.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forestdale Hillcrest
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 17.0%
Forestdale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Hillcrest — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Bachelor Degree 14.6% / 7.1%
Forestdale — Bachelor Degree: 14.6% Hillcrest — Bachelor Degree: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.3%
Forestdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Hillcrest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 1.9%
Forestdale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Hillcrest — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 0.9%
Forestdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Hillcrest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Forestdale Hillcrest
New Zealand 3.4% / 7.4%
Forestdale — New Zealand: 3.4% Hillcrest — New Zealand: 7.4%
England 5.1% / 2.6%
Forestdale — England: 5.1% Hillcrest — England: 2.6%
India 1.7% / 3.2%
Forestdale — India: 1.7% Hillcrest — India: 3.2%
Vietnam 3.3% / 0.8%
Forestdale — Vietnam: 3.3% Hillcrest — Vietnam: 0.8%
Fiji 1.0% / 1.3%
Forestdale — Fiji: 1.0% Hillcrest — Fiji: 1.3%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.7%
Forestdale — South Africa: 1.5% Hillcrest — South Africa: 0.7%
Philippines — / 2.2%
Forestdale — Philippines: not among its largest Hillcrest — Philippines: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Forestdale 98.9% houses
Forestdale — Houses: 98.9% Forestdale — Townhouses: 0.0% Forestdale — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Hillcrest 81.6% houses
Hillcrest — Houses: 81.6% Hillcrest — Townhouses: 16.0% Hillcrest — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forestdale Hillcrest
Median house price $1,800,000 $877,500
Median unit price — $595,000
Median land price $1,700,000 $672,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 18 days
from 61 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.

Forestdale Hillcrest
4 bed $1.79M / $878K
Forestdale — 4 bed: $1.79M (8 sales) Hillcrest — 4 bed: $878K (57 sales)

8 vs 57 sales

5 bed $1.87M / $974K
Forestdale — 5 bed: $1.87M (13 sales) Hillcrest — 5 bed: $974K (16 sales)

13 vs 16 sales

Development activity

Forestdale Hillcrest
New dwellings approved 4,950
across Logan
same for both
Approvals change year on year -8%
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.

Forestdale Hillcrest
Houses — 3.7%
$655/wk on $924K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Forestdale Hillcrest
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 53% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 80% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of QLD Higher than 87% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 34% of QLD

Liveability

Hillcrest is more walkable (64 vs 23); Forestdale scores higher overall (73 vs 43).

Forestdale Hillcrest
Grade A C
Score 73/100 43/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Hillcrest carries more crime risk (87 vs 51).

Forestdale Hillcrest
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
87/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Forestdale Hillcrest
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Forestdale Hillcrest
Parks & reserves 10
same for both
Childcare 1 5
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Fuel stations 1 3

Mobility

Forestdale sits further from the CBD (33.8 km vs 30.1 km).

Forestdale Hillcrest
Walkability score 23/100 64/100
Distance to Brisbane 33.8 km
+11% vs other
 30.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 29 min
Public transport score 31/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 59.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 4118
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 78
postcode 4118
same for both

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.

Forestdale Hillcrest
Car (driver) 72.6% / 79.7%
Forestdale — Car (driver): 72.6% Hillcrest — Car (driver): 79.7%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 9.1%
Forestdale — Worked from Home: 18.7% Hillcrest — Worked from Home: 9.1%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.4%
Forestdale — Car (passenger): 5.4% Hillcrest — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bus 1.0% / 3.9%
Forestdale — Bus: 1.0% Hillcrest — Bus: 3.9%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.0%
Forestdale — Walked Only: 0.9% Hillcrest — Walked Only: 1.0%
Train 1.1% / 0.7%
Forestdale — Train: 1.1% Hillcrest — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Forestdale Hillcrest
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.1 km 27.0 km

NBN connectivity

Forestdale Hillcrest
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
875 premises
 18%
3,115 premises

Climate

Forestdale Hillcrest
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Forestdale Hillcrest
PM2.5 4.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Forestdale Hillcrest
Average residential rate $1,681/yr
same for both
Council Logan
same for both

Federal electorate

Forestdale Hillcrest
Division Wright Rankin
Member Scott Buchholz Jim Chalmers
Party Liberal National Party of Queensland Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Forestdale Hillcrest
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Forestdale

Acreage Outer Parks Premium

Hillcrest

Family Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forestdale

Forestdale vs Parkinson Forestdale vs Greenbank Forestdale vs Boronia Heights Forestdale vs Heathwood

Other comparisons with Hillcrest

Hillcrest vs Parkinson Hillcrest vs Regents Park Hillcrest vs Greenbank Hillcrest vs Boronia Heights Hillcrest vs Browns Plains
Full data on Forestdale Full data on Hillcrest
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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