Forrestfield vs Kewdale

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Kewdale: a median of $935,000, against $810,000 in Forrestfield. Kewdale is closer to the city centre: 11.8 km, against 20.2 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

Forrestfield

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (44 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 3)
  • But Kewdale has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Kewdale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($636,000 vs $872,500)
  • has cheaper units ($560,000 vs $655,000)
  • But Forrestfield has cheaper houses ($810,000 vs $935,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kewdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Kewdale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (11.8 km vs 20.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (16 min vs 24 min)
  • But Forrestfield is more walkable (79/100 vs 39/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Forrestfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 39/100)
  • But Kewdale has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 12%)

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

Forrestfield and Kewdale 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 Kewdale
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 Kewdale
Walkability 79 / 39
Forrestfield — Walkability: 79/100 Kewdale — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 28 / 29
Forrestfield — Safety: 28/100 Kewdale — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 51 / 100
Forrestfield — Low fire risk: 51/100 Kewdale — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Forrestfield — Low flood risk: 100/100 Kewdale — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Forrestfield has more residents (13,181 vs 7,397); Forrestfield skews older (38 vs 36).

Forrestfield Kewdale
Population 13,181
+44% vs other
 7,397
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +7.3%
Median age 38 36
Median household income $83,928/yr
+1% vs other
 $83,044/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield Kewdale
0-4 6.4% / 6.7%
Forrestfield — 0-4: 6.4% Kewdale — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 12.5% / 12.2%
Forrestfield — 5-14: 12.5% Kewdale — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.2% / 4.9%
Forrestfield — 15-19: 5.2% Kewdale — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.9% / 6.2%
Forrestfield — 20-24: 5.9% Kewdale — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 14.1% / 17.6%
Forrestfield — 25-34: 14.1% Kewdale — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 14.7% / 15.9%
Forrestfield — 35-44: 14.7% Kewdale — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 12.4% / 11.9%
Forrestfield — 45-54: 12.4% Kewdale — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 11.4% / 9.9%
Forrestfield — 55-64: 11.4% Kewdale — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 10.3% / 7.7%
Forrestfield — 65-74: 10.3% Kewdale — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 5.0% / 5.0%
Forrestfield — 75-84: 5.0% Kewdale — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 2.0% / 1.9%
Forrestfield — 85+: 2.0% Kewdale — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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%
Kewdale 38.2% couple families
Kewdale — Couple Families: 38.2% Kewdale — Lone Person: 38.3% Kewdale — One Parent Families: 14.0% Kewdale — Group Household: 7.5% Kewdale — 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.

Forrestfield 23.3% renting
Forrestfield — Owned Outright: 29.0% Forrestfield — Mortgage: 47.7% Forrestfield — Renting: 23.3%
Kewdale 37.6% renting
Kewdale — Owned Outright: 30.1% Kewdale — Mortgage: 32.3% Kewdale — Renting: 37.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forrestfield Kewdale
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 12.5%
Forrestfield — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Kewdale — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 14.2%
Forrestfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Kewdale — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.8%
Forrestfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Kewdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 5.6%
Forrestfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Kewdale — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.4%
Forrestfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Kewdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

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 Kewdale
England 6.7% / 4.1%
Forrestfield — England: 6.7% Kewdale — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 4.2% / 3.3%
Forrestfield — New Zealand: 4.2% Kewdale — New Zealand: 3.3%
India 2.5% / 3.9%
Forrestfield — India: 2.5% Kewdale — India: 3.9%
Philippines 1.9% / 2.8%
Forrestfield — Philippines: 1.9% Kewdale — Philippines: 2.8%
China — / 3.1%
Forrestfield — China: not among its largest Kewdale — China: 3.1%
South Africa 1.2% / —
Forrestfield — South Africa: 1.2% Kewdale — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.7%).

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%
Kewdale 71.7% houses
Kewdale — Houses: 71.7% Kewdale — Townhouses: 23.8% Kewdale — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forrestfield Kewdale
Median house price $810,000 $935,000
Median unit price $655,000 $560,000
Median land price $872,500 $636,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 152 sales
 21 days
from 69 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 Kewdale
3 bed $758K / $910K
Forrestfield — 3 bed: $758K (137 sales) Kewdale — 3 bed: $910K (77 sales)

137 vs 77 sales

4 bed $835K / $1M
Forrestfield — 4 bed: $835K (111 sales) Kewdale — 4 bed: $1M (45 sales)

111 vs 45 sales

Development activity

Forrestfield Kewdale
New dwellings approved 214
across Kalamunda
 595
across Belmont
Approvals change year on year +124% +71%

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 Kewdale
Houses 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K
 4.2%
$800/wk on $992K
Units 5.6%
$750/wk on $700K
 5.2%
$600/wk on $599K

Ranking within WA

Forrestfield Kewdale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 46% of WA —
Schools Higher than 41% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Walkability Higher than 94% of WA Higher than 80% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 63% of WA Higher than 78% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of WA Higher than 94% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of WA Higher than 38% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of WA Higher than 42% of WA

Liveability

Forrestfield is more walkable (79 vs 39); Kewdale scores higher overall (71 vs 48).

Forrestfield Kewdale
Grade C A
Score 48/100 71/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Forrestfield carries more bushfire risk (49 vs 0).

Forrestfield Kewdale
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
72/100
 High
71/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 High
83/100
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 29
within 5 km

Schools

Forrestfield Kewdale
Inside the suburb 6 3
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Curtin University of Technology, 9.8 km
 3
Curtin University of Technology, 5.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 2.1%

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 Kewdale

  • Australian Islamic College (Kewdale) Independent · Combined above peers
  • Kewdale Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carlisle Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Forrestfield Kewdale
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 44 6
Childcare 9 3
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 4
same for both
EV chargers 1 2
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 31 2

Mobility

Forrestfield sits further from the CBD (20.2 km vs 11.8 km).

Forrestfield Kewdale
Walkability score 79/100 39/100
Distance to Perth 20.2 km
+42% vs other
 11.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 16 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 258.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 272.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 6058
 1.0%
postcode 6105
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6058
 38
postcode 6105

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 Kewdale
Car (driver) 83.5% / 74.6%
Forrestfield — Car (driver): 83.5% Kewdale — Car (driver): 74.6%
Worked from Home 5.8% / 6.3%
Forrestfield — Worked from Home: 5.8% Kewdale — Worked from Home: 6.3%
Bus 3.6% / 8.0%
Forrestfield — Bus: 3.6% Kewdale — Bus: 8.0%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.9%
Forrestfield — Car (passenger): 4.7% Kewdale — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Train 1.0% / 3.0%
Forrestfield — Train: 1.0% Kewdale — Train: 3.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.6%
Forrestfield — Walked Only: 1.1% Kewdale — Walked Only: 1.6%

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

Setting

Forrestfield Kewdale
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 18.6 km
5.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Forrestfield Kewdale
Connectivity score 81/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
6,404 premises
 66%
4,009 premises

Climate

Forrestfield Kewdale
Annual rainfall 663 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Forrestfield Kewdale
Average residential rate $1,977/yr $2,937/yr
Council Kalamunda Belmont

Federal electorate

Forrestfield Kewdale
Division Bullwinkel Swan
Member Trish Cook Zaneta Mascarenhas
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Forrestfield Kewdale
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

Kewdale

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forrestfield

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

Other comparisons with Kewdale

Kewdale vs Rivervale Kewdale vs Cloverdale Kewdale vs Carlisle Kewdale vs Wattle Grove
Full data on Forrestfield Full data on Kewdale
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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