Forrest vs Red Hill

Red Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 47 in Forrest. In both, most households own their home. In Forrest, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Red Hill, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Forrest: a median of $4.05 million, against $2.31 million in Red Hill, and rent is higher there too. Forrest is closer to the city centre: 6.9 km, against 10.2 km. On these figures, Forrest tends to suit people living alone, while Red Hill suits families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget.

Forrest and Red Hill are both affluent ACT suburbs, but they cater to quite different priorities. Forrest is closer to the CBD (6.9 km versus 10.2 km), has a significantly higher liveability score of 91 compared to Red Hill's 50, and carries no bushfire risk whereas Red Hill sits at 86. House prices are substantially higher in Forrest at $4,052,500 versus $2,307,500, though units are cheaper there. Red Hill offers higher household incomes ($204,776 versus $174,876) and better rental yields on houses (3.4% versus 1.8%), making it potentially more appealing to investors, while Forrest suits those prioritising walkability, proximity to the city, and lifestyle amenities.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Red Hill

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Forrest has cheaper units ($685,000 vs $1,042,000)
  • Red Hill has cheaper houses ($2,307,500 vs $4,052,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Red Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $570/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Forrest

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (6.9 km vs 10.2 km)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 56/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (14 min vs 19 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Forrest

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 56/100)

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

Investors

Forrest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -0.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.6% vs 3.1%)
  • But Red Hill returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Forrest and Red 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.

Forrest Red 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.

Forrest Red Hill
Walkability 81 / 56
Forrest — Walkability: 81/100 Red Hill — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 47 / 41
Forrest — Safety: 47/100 Red Hill — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 100 / 14
Forrest — Low fire risk: 100/100 Red Hill — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Forrest — Low flood risk: 100/100 Red Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Red Hill has more residents (3,146 vs 1,827); Red Hill has higher household incomes ($204,776 vs $174,876).

Forrest Red Hill
Population 1,827 3,146
+72% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% -0.8%
Median age 47 42
Median household income $174,876/yr $204,776/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $570/wk
+12% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forrest Red Hill
0-4 2.4% / 3.5%
Forrest — 0-4: 2.4% Red Hill — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 8.9% / 15.2%
Forrest — 5-14: 8.9% Red Hill — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 5.1% / 9.8%
Forrest — 15-19: 5.1% Red Hill — 15-19: 9.8%
20-24 5.2% / 5.7%
Forrest — 20-24: 5.2% Red Hill — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 15.2% / 7.6%
Forrest — 25-34: 15.2% Red Hill — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 10.2% / 11.4%
Forrest — 35-44: 10.2% Red Hill — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 15.4% / 14.9%
Forrest — 45-54: 15.4% Red Hill — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 14.8% / 13.2%
Forrest — 55-64: 14.8% Red Hill — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 13.1% / 9.9%
Forrest — 65-74: 13.1% Red Hill — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 8.2% / 4.8%
Forrest — 75-84: 8.2% Red Hill — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.0% / 4.2%
Forrest — 85+: 2.0% Red Hill — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Forrest 38.0% couple families
Forrest — Couple Families: 38.0% Forrest — Lone Person: 46.4% Forrest — One Parent Families: 8.2% Forrest — Group Household: 6.8% Forrest — Other Families: 0.6%
Red Hill 57.2% couple families
Red Hill — Couple Families: 57.2% Red Hill — Lone Person: 25.2% Red Hill — One Parent Families: 10.8% Red Hill — Group Household: 5.2% Red Hill — 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.

Forrest 31.3% renting
Forrest — Owned Outright: 38.6% Forrest — Mortgage: 30.0% Forrest — Renting: 31.3%
Red Hill 22.5% renting
Red Hill — Owned Outright: 40.5% Red Hill — Mortgage: 37.0% Red Hill — Renting: 22.5%
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.

Forrest Red Hill
England 3.0% / 3.6%
Forrest — England: 3.0% Red Hill — England: 3.6%
India 2.1% / 2.6%
Forrest — India: 2.1% Red Hill — India: 2.6%
China 1.6% / 2.1%
Forrest — China: 1.6% Red Hill — China: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.9%
Forrest — New Zealand: 1.6% Red Hill — New Zealand: 0.9%
Sri Lanka 1.1% / 1.0%
Forrest — Sri Lanka: 1.1% Red Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

Qualifications

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

Forrest Red Hill
Bachelor Degree 27.0% / 24.9%
Forrest — Bachelor Degree: 27.0% Red Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 21.3% / 15.6%
Forrest — Postgraduate Degree: 21.3% Red Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 5.4%
Forrest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Red Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 6.0% / 4.4%
Forrest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.0% Red Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.6% / 3.9%
Forrest — Certificate III & IV: 3.6% Red Hill — Certificate III & IV: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Forrest 36.5% houses
Forrest — Houses: 36.5% Forrest — Flats / Apartments: 46.6% Forrest — Townhouses: 16.9%
Red Hill 79.1% houses
Red Hill — Houses: 79.1% Red Hill — Flats / Apartments: 13.6% Red Hill — Townhouses: 7.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Forrest Red Hill
Median house price $4,052,500 $2,307,500
Median unit price $685,000 $1,042,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 120 days
from 8 sales
 58 days
from 14 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.

Forrest Red Hill
1 bed $555K / $398K
Forrest — 1 bed: $555K (15 sales) Red Hill — 1 bed: $398K (6 sales)

15 vs 6 sales

2 bed $720K / $1.11M
Forrest — 2 bed: $720K (22 sales) Red Hill — 2 bed: $1.11M (10 sales)

22 vs 10 sales

3 bed $985K / $1.43M
Forrest — 3 bed: $985K (9 sales) Red Hill — 3 bed: $1.43M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Forrest Red Hill
New dwellings approved 3,750
across Unincorporated ACT
same for both
Approvals change year on year -48%
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.

Forrest Red Hill
Houses 1.8%
$1,400/wk on $4.04M
 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
Units 4.6%
$680/wk on $765K
 3.1%
$755/wk on $1.25M

Ranking within ACT

Forrest Red Hill
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 96% of ACT Higher than 99% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 9% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 87% of ACT Higher than 39% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of ACT
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of ACT Higher than 49% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 1% of ACT Higher than 13% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 12% of ACT Higher than 5% of ACT

Liveability

Forrest scores higher overall (91 vs 50); Forrest is more walkable (81 vs 56).

Forrest Red Hill
Grade A+ B
Score 91/100 50/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Red Hill carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 0).

Forrest Red Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
86/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Forrest Red Hill
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UNSW Canberra, 1.7 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.4%

Schools in Forrest

  • Forrest Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Red Hill

  • Red Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Bede's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Canberra Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Canberra Grammar School - Primary School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Forrest Red Hill
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 3 9
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 0 1

Mobility

Red Hill sits further from the CBD (10.2 km vs 6.9 km).

Forrest Red Hill
Walkability score 81/100 56/100
Distance to Canberra 6.9 km 10.2 km
+48% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 19 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2603
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2603
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.

Forrest Red Hill
Car (driver) 54.3% / 67.0%
Forrest — Car (driver): 54.3% Red Hill — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 20.3% / 16.9%
Forrest — Worked from Home: 20.3% Red Hill — Worked from Home: 16.9%
Walked Only 15.1% / 3.6%
Forrest — Walked Only: 15.1% Red Hill — Walked Only: 3.6%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 6.6%
Forrest — Car (passenger): 3.8% Red Hill — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Bus 3.5% / 3.2%
Forrest — Bus: 3.5% Red Hill — Bus: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

Forrest Red Hill
Elevation 588 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 631 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Forrest Red Hill
Connectivity score 70/100 55/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
1,171 premises
 18%
1,535 premises

Climate

Forrest Red Hill
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Forrest Red Hill
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Forrest Red Hill
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Forrest Red Hill
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Forrest Red Hill
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Forrest

Apartments Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Red Hill

Inner Luxury Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forrest

Forrest vs Griffith Forrest vs Deakin Forrest vs Barton

Other comparisons with Red Hill

Red Hill vs Narrabundah Red Hill vs Griffith Red Hill vs Garran Red Hill vs Hughes Red Hill vs Deakin Red Hill vs O'Malley
Full data on Forrest Full data on Red 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or