Forrestfield vs Kalamunda

Forrestfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 49 in Kalamunda. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kalamunda, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kalamunda: a median of $1.22 million, against $810,000 in Forrestfield. Forrestfield is closer to the city centre: 20.2 km, against 26.2 km. On these figures, Forrestfield tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Kalamunda suits older residents.

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

Forrestfield

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (44 vs 22)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)
  • But Kalamunda carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 72/100)

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

First-home buyers

Forrestfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($810,000 vs $1,220,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 30%)
  • But Kalamunda has cheaper land ($660,000 vs $872,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Forrestfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (20.2 km vs 26.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (24 min vs 30 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kalamunda

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 72/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 17%)

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

Investors

Forrestfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 3.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Forrestfield Kalamunda
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.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Walkability 79 / 84
Forrestfield — Walkability: 79/100 Kalamunda — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 28 / 59
Forrestfield — Safety: 28/100 Kalamunda — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 51 / 24
Forrestfield — Low fire risk: 51/100 Kalamunda — Low fire risk: 24/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Forrestfield — Low flood risk: 100/100 Kalamunda — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Forrestfield has more residents (13,181 vs 7,163); Kalamunda skews older (49 vs 38).

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Population 13,181
+46% vs other
 7,163
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +2.8%
Median age 38 49
Median household income $83,928/yr $84,344/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $360/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
0-4 6.4% / 4.0%
Forrestfield — 0-4: 6.4% Kalamunda — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 12.5% / 12.2%
Forrestfield — 5-14: 12.5% Kalamunda — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.2% / 5.3%
Forrestfield — 15-19: 5.2% Kalamunda — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.9% / 4.7%
Forrestfield — 20-24: 5.9% Kalamunda — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 14.1% / 7.0%
Forrestfield — 25-34: 14.1% Kalamunda — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 14.7% / 10.9%
Forrestfield — 35-44: 14.7% Kalamunda — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.4% / 13.8%
Forrestfield — 45-54: 12.4% Kalamunda — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 11.4% / 13.7%
Forrestfield — 55-64: 11.4% Kalamunda — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 10.3% / 14.3%
Forrestfield — 65-74: 10.3% Kalamunda — 65-74: 14.3%
75-84 5.0% / 10.3%
Forrestfield — 75-84: 5.0% Kalamunda — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 2.0% / 4.0%
Forrestfield — 85+: 2.0% Kalamunda — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield 39.6% couple families
Forrestfield — Couple Families: 39.6% Forrestfield — Lone Person: 36.1% Forrestfield — One Parent Families: 18.2% Forrestfield — Group Household: 4.4% Forrestfield — Other Families: 1.7%
Kalamunda 45.0% couple families
Kalamunda — Couple Families: 45.0% Kalamunda — Lone Person: 38.1% Kalamunda — One Parent Families: 13.8% Kalamunda — Group Household: 2.1% Kalamunda — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield 23.3% renting
Forrestfield — Owned Outright: 29.0% Forrestfield — Mortgage: 47.7% Forrestfield — Renting: 23.3%
Kalamunda 15.2% renting
Kalamunda — Owned Outright: 50.1% Kalamunda — Mortgage: 34.6% Kalamunda — Renting: 15.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 14.6%
Forrestfield — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Kalamunda — Certificate III & IV: 14.6%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 15.5%
Forrestfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Kalamunda — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 10.4%
Forrestfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Kalamunda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 4.2%
Forrestfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Kalamunda — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 2.4%
Forrestfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Kalamunda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
England 6.7% / 14.6%
Forrestfield — England: 6.7% Kalamunda — England: 14.6%
New Zealand 4.2% / 2.6%
Forrestfield — New Zealand: 4.2% Kalamunda — New Zealand: 2.6%
India 2.5% / 0.8%
Forrestfield — India: 2.5% Kalamunda — India: 0.8%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.4%
Forrestfield — South Africa: 1.2% Kalamunda — South Africa: 1.4%
Scotland 0.7% / 1.5%
Forrestfield — Scotland: 0.7% Kalamunda — Scotland: 1.5%
Philippines 1.9% / —
Forrestfield — Philippines: 1.9% Kalamunda — Philippines: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.0%
Forrestfield — Italy: not among its largest Kalamunda — Italy: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield 88.5% houses
Forrestfield — Houses: 88.5% Forrestfield — Townhouses: 9.1% Forrestfield — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Kalamunda 89.3% houses
Kalamunda — Houses: 89.3% Kalamunda — Townhouses: 9.3% Kalamunda — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Median house price $810,000 $1,220,000
Median unit price $655,000 $700,000
Median land price $872,500 $660,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 152 sales
 35 days
from 84 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.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
3 bed $758K / $980K
Forrestfield — 3 bed: $758K (137 sales) Kalamunda — 3 bed: $980K (49 sales)

137 vs 49 sales

4 bed $835K / $1.3M
Forrestfield — 4 bed: $835K (111 sales) Kalamunda — 4 bed: $1.3M (79 sales)

111 vs 79 sales

5 bed $989K / $1.48M
Forrestfield — 5 bed: $989K (16 sales) Kalamunda — 5 bed: $1.48M (15 sales)

16 vs 15 sales

Development activity

Forrestfield Kalamunda
New dwellings approved 214
across Kalamunda
same for both
Approvals change year on year +124%
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.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Houses 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K
 3.1%
$750/wk on $1.25M
Units 5.6%
$750/wk on $700K
 4.0%
$635/wk on $829K

Ranking within WA

Forrestfield Kalamunda
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 46% of WA
same for both
Schools Higher than 41% of WA Higher than 53% of WA
Walkability Higher than 94% of WA Higher than 97% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 63% of WA Higher than 88% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of WA Higher than 70% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of WA Higher than 9% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of WA Higher than 7% of WA

Liveability

Kalamunda scores higher overall (63 vs 48).

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Grade C B
Score 48/100 63/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Forrestfield carries more crime risk (72 vs 41); Kalamunda carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 49).

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 High
76/100
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Curtin University of Technology, 9.8 km
 None

Schools in Forrestfield

  • Dawson Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Darling Range Sports College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Heritage College Perth Independent · Combined at peers
  • HillSide Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Woodlupine Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Forrestfield Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kalamunda

  • Kalamunda Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Kalamunda Senior High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kalamunda Primary Education Support Centre Government · Primary · Special school
  • Kalamunda Secondary Education Support Centre Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Supermarkets 3 4
Cafes & restaurants 4 12
Parks & reserves 44 22
Childcare 9 3
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 2 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 31 21

Mobility

Kalamunda sits further from the CBD (26.2 km vs 20.2 km).

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Walkability score 79/100 84/100
Distance to Perth 20.2 km 26.2 km
+30% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 30 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 258.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 196.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 6058
 1.4%
postcode 6076
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6058
 65
postcode 6076

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.

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Car (driver) 83.5% / 77.6%
Forrestfield — Car (driver): 83.5% Kalamunda — Car (driver): 77.6%
Worked from Home 5.8% / 11.6%
Forrestfield — Worked from Home: 5.8% Kalamunda — Worked from Home: 11.6%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.3%
Forrestfield — Car (passenger): 4.7% Kalamunda — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus 3.6% / 2.9%
Forrestfield — Bus: 3.6% Kalamunda — Bus: 2.9%
Walked Only 1.1% / 2.0%
Forrestfield — Walked Only: 1.1% Kalamunda — Walked Only: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.5%).

Setting

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 280 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 28.3 km

NBN connectivity

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Connectivity score 81/100 49/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
6,404 premises
 7%
3,630 premises

Climate

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Annual rainfall 663 mm 1,068 mm
Summer max (Jan) 32.3°C 30.2°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C 7.9°C

Council rates

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Average residential rate $1,977/yr
same for both
Council Kalamunda
same for both

Federal electorate

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Division Bullwinkel
same for both
Member Trish Cook
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Forrestfield Kalamunda
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Forrestfield

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks River Transport Hub

Kalamunda

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forrestfield

Forrestfield vs High Wycombe Forrestfield vs Lesmurdie Forrestfield vs Kewdale Forrestfield vs Wattle Grove Forrestfield vs Maida Vale

Other comparisons with Kalamunda

Kalamunda vs Lesmurdie Kalamunda vs Maida Vale Kalamunda vs Gooseberry Hill Kalamunda vs Walliston Kalamunda vs Bickley Kalamunda vs Piesse Brook
Full data on Forrestfield Full data on Kalamunda
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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