Forrestfield vs Wattle Grove

Wattle Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Forrestfield. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wattle Grove, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wattle Grove: a median of $950,000, against $810,000 in Forrestfield, and rent is higher there too. Wattle Grove is closer to the city centre: 16.6 km, against 20.2 km. On these figures, Forrestfield tends to suit people living alone, while Wattle Grove suits families with children and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Forrestfield has more childcare (9 vs 1)
  • Wattle Grove carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 72/100)

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

First-home buyers

Wattle Grove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($525,000 vs $872,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 25%)
  • But Forrestfield has cheaper houses ($810,000 vs $950,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forrestfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Forrestfield is more walkable (79/100 vs 29/100)
  • Wattle Grove sits closer to the CBD (16.6 km vs 20.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Forrestfield

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (12% vs 0%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 29/100)
  • But Wattle Grove carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Wattle Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.7% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Forrestfield and Wattle Grove 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 Wattle Grove
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 Wattle Grove
Walkability 79 / 29
Forrestfield — Walkability: 79/100 Wattle Grove — Walkability: 29/100
Safety 28 / 63
Forrestfield — Safety: 28/100 Wattle Grove — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 51 / 35
Forrestfield — Low fire risk: 51/100 Wattle Grove — Low fire risk: 35/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Forrestfield — Low flood risk: 100/100 Wattle Grove — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Forrestfield has more residents (13,181 vs 6,547); Wattle Grove has higher household incomes ($123,604 vs $83,928).

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Population 13,181
+50% vs other
 6,547
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +9.7%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $83,928/yr $123,604/yr
+47% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $430/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
0-4 6.4% / 8.7%
Forrestfield — 0-4: 6.4% Wattle Grove — 0-4: 8.7%
5-14 12.5% / 18.7%
Forrestfield — 5-14: 12.5% Wattle Grove — 5-14: 18.7%
15-19 5.2% / 6.4%
Forrestfield — 15-19: 5.2% Wattle Grove — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.9% / 5.1%
Forrestfield — 20-24: 5.9% Wattle Grove — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 14.1% / 12.1%
Forrestfield — 25-34: 14.1% Wattle Grove — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 14.7% / 20.8%
Forrestfield — 35-44: 14.7% Wattle Grove — 35-44: 20.8%
45-54 12.4% / 12.6%
Forrestfield — 45-54: 12.4% Wattle Grove — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 11.4% / 8.6%
Forrestfield — 55-64: 11.4% Wattle Grove — 55-64: 8.6%
65-74 10.3% / 5.0%
Forrestfield — 65-74: 10.3% Wattle Grove — 65-74: 5.0%
75-84 5.0% / 1.5%
Forrestfield — 75-84: 5.0% Wattle Grove — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 2.0% / 0.5%
Forrestfield — 85+: 2.0% Wattle Grove — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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%
Wattle Grove 70.2% couple families
Wattle Grove — Couple Families: 70.2% Wattle Grove — Lone Person: 13.7% Wattle Grove — One Parent Families: 12.6% Wattle Grove — Group Household: 2.6% Wattle Grove — Other Families: 0.8%
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%
Wattle Grove 14.8% renting
Wattle Grove — Owned Outright: 21.2% Wattle Grove — Mortgage: 64.0% Wattle Grove — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 12.3%
Forrestfield — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Wattle Grove — Certificate III & IV: 12.3%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 13.5%
Forrestfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Wattle Grove — Bachelor Degree: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.6%
Forrestfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Wattle Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 5.5%
Forrestfield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Wattle Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.3%
Forrestfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Wattle Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

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 Wattle Grove
India 2.5% / 8.7%
Forrestfield — India: 2.5% Wattle Grove — India: 8.7%
England 6.7% / 3.1%
Forrestfield — England: 6.7% Wattle Grove — England: 3.1%
New Zealand 4.2% / 2.3%
Forrestfield — New Zealand: 4.2% Wattle Grove — New Zealand: 2.3%
Philippines 1.9% / 3.0%
Forrestfield — Philippines: 1.9% Wattle Grove — Philippines: 3.0%
Afghanistan 1.1% / 2.4%
Forrestfield — Afghanistan: 1.1% Wattle Grove — Afghanistan: 2.4%
China — / 2.9%
Forrestfield — China: not among its largest Wattle Grove — China: 2.9%
South Africa 1.2% / —
Forrestfield — South Africa: 1.2% Wattle Grove — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

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%
Wattle Grove 99.8% houses
Wattle Grove — Houses: 99.8% Wattle Grove — Townhouses: 0.0% Wattle Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Median house price $810,000 $950,000
Median unit price $655,000 —
Median land price $872,500 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 152 sales
 16 days
from 32 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 Wattle Grove
3 bed $758K / $860K
Forrestfield — 3 bed: $758K (137 sales) Wattle Grove — 3 bed: $860K (17 sales)

137 vs 17 sales

4 bed $835K / $960K
Forrestfield — 4 bed: $835K (111 sales) Wattle Grove — 4 bed: $960K (41 sales)

111 vs 41 sales

5 bed $989K / $1.19M
Forrestfield — 5 bed: $989K (16 sales) Wattle Grove — 5 bed: $1.19M (7 sales)

16 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
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 Wattle Grove
Houses 4.6%
$750/wk on $849K
 4.4%
$850/wk on $999K
Units 5.6%
$750/wk on $700K
 —

Ranking within WA

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 46% of WA Higher than 88% of WA
Schools Higher than 41% of WA —
Walkability Higher than 94% of WA Higher than 77% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 63% of WA Higher than 77% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of WA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of WA Higher than 54% of WA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of WA —

Liveability

Forrestfield is more walkable (79 vs 29); Wattle Grove scores higher overall (61 vs 48).

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Grade C B
Score 48/100 61/100
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 37); Wattle Grove carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 49).

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Bushfire Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime High
72/100
 Low
37/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Curtin University of Technology, 9.8 km
 1
Curtin University of Technology, 8.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 2.4%

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 Wattle Grove

  • Wattle Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 44 7
Childcare 9 1
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 31 15

Mobility

Forrestfield sits further from the CBD (20.2 km vs 16.6 km).

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Walkability score 79/100 29/100
Distance to Perth 20.2 km
+18% vs other
 16.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 22 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 258.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 6058
 1.0%
postcode 6107
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6058
 52
postcode 6107

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 Wattle Grove
Car (driver) 83.5% / 81.5%
Forrestfield — Car (driver): 83.5% Wattle Grove — Car (driver): 81.5%
Worked from Home 5.8% / 7.9%
Forrestfield — Worked from Home: 5.8% Wattle Grove — Worked from Home: 7.9%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.4%
Forrestfield — Car (passenger): 4.7% Wattle Grove — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 3.6% / 2.9%
Forrestfield — Bus: 3.6% Wattle Grove — Bus: 2.9%
Train 1.0% / 2.1%
Forrestfield — Train: 1.0% Wattle Grove — Train: 2.1%
Walked Only 1.1% / 0.9%
Forrestfield — Walked Only: 1.1% Wattle Grove — Walked Only: 0.9%

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

Setting

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 23.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 23.4 km
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
Connectivity score 81/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
6,404 premises
 58%
2,304 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Forrestfield Wattle Grove
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

Wattle Grove

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forrestfield

Forrestfield vs High Wycombe Forrestfield vs Lesmurdie Forrestfield vs Kewdale Forrestfield vs Kalamunda Forrestfield vs Maida Vale

Other comparisons with Wattle Grove

Wattle Grove vs Maddington Wattle Grove vs Beckenham Wattle Grove vs Lesmurdie Wattle Grove vs Kewdale Wattle Grove vs Kenwick Wattle Grove vs Orange Grove
Full data on Forrestfield Full data on Wattle Grove
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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