Frenchs Forest vs Forestville

Frenchs Forest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Forestville. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Forestville is closer to the city centre: 14.6 km, against 17 km. On these figures, Frenchs Forest tends to suit 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

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 20)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 80%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 71%)
  • But Forestville has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Forestville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,275,000 vs $1,900,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forestville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($650/wk vs $800/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Forestville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.6 km vs 17 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Forestville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 8%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Frenchs Forest Forestville
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.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Walkability 80 / 84
Frenchs Forest — Walkability: 80/100 Forestville — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 71 / 77
Frenchs Forest — Safety: 71/100 Forestville — Safety: 77/100
Low fire risk 10 / 26
Frenchs Forest — Low fire risk: 10/100 Forestville — Low fire risk: 26/100

Demographics

Frenchs Forest has more residents (14,267 vs 8,659); Frenchs Forest has higher household incomes ($161,668 vs $130,364).

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Population 14,267
+39% vs other
 8,659
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% +4.0%
Median age 40 43
Median household income $161,668/yr
+19% vs other
 $130,364/yr
Median weekly rent $800/wk
+19% vs other
 $650/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
0-4 5.7% / 4.9%
Frenchs Forest — 0-4: 5.7% Forestville — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 16.5% / 16.0%
Frenchs Forest — 5-14: 16.5% Forestville — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 7.7% / 7.1%
Frenchs Forest — 15-19: 7.7% Forestville — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.4% / 5.0%
Frenchs Forest — 20-24: 5.4% Forestville — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 7.3% / 6.1%
Frenchs Forest — 25-34: 7.3% Forestville — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 13.5% / 12.8%
Frenchs Forest — 35-44: 13.5% Forestville — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 16.9% / 16.3%
Frenchs Forest — 45-54: 16.9% Forestville — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 11.2% / 11.4%
Frenchs Forest — 55-64: 11.2% Forestville — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 7.9% / 8.3%
Frenchs Forest — 65-74: 7.9% Forestville — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 6.1% / 8.1%
Frenchs Forest — 75-84: 6.1% Forestville — 75-84: 8.1%
85+ 1.8% / 4.1%
Frenchs Forest — 85+: 1.8% Forestville — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest 69.9% couple families
Frenchs Forest — Couple Families: 69.9% Frenchs Forest — Lone Person: 15.6% Frenchs Forest — One Parent Families: 11.7% Frenchs Forest — Group Household: 1.9% Frenchs Forest — Other Families: 0.9%
Forestville 58.8% couple families
Forestville — Couple Families: 58.8% Forestville — Lone Person: 26.4% Forestville — One Parent Families: 12.4% Forestville — Group Household: 1.3% Forestville — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest 15.8% renting
Frenchs Forest — Owned Outright: 37.3% Frenchs Forest — Mortgage: 46.9% Frenchs Forest — Renting: 15.8%
Forestville 20.4% renting
Forestville — Owned Outright: 41.1% Forestville — Mortgage: 38.5% Forestville — Renting: 20.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Bachelor Degree 19.8% / 20.2%
Frenchs Forest — Bachelor Degree: 19.8% Forestville — Bachelor Degree: 20.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.9% / 7.6%
Frenchs Forest — Certificate III & IV: 9.9% Forestville — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.0%
Frenchs Forest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Forestville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 7.8%
Frenchs Forest — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Forestville — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.5%
Frenchs Forest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Forestville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
England 7.3% / 5.3%
Frenchs Forest — England: 7.3% Forestville — England: 5.3%
China 2.3% / 3.0%
Frenchs Forest — China: 2.3% Forestville — China: 3.0%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Frenchs Forest — New Zealand: 2.2% Forestville — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 1.9% / 1.5%
Frenchs Forest — South Africa: 1.9% Forestville — South Africa: 1.5%
India 0.9% / 0.7%
Frenchs Forest — India: 0.9% Forestville — India: 0.7%
Japan — / 1.1%
Frenchs Forest — Japan: not among its largest Forestville — Japan: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest 92.5% houses
Frenchs Forest — Houses: 92.5% Frenchs Forest — Townhouses: 4.3% Frenchs Forest — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Forestville 80.3% houses
Forestville — Houses: 80.3% Forestville — Townhouses: 13.1% Forestville — Flats / Apartments: 6.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Median house price $2,400,000 $2,550,000
Median unit price $1,900,000 $1,275,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 112 sales
 26 days
from 50 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.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
3 bed $2.25M / $2.37M
Frenchs Forest — 3 bed: $2.25M (45 sales) Forestville — 3 bed: $2.37M (31 sales)

45 vs 31 sales

4 bed $2.4M / $2.63M
Frenchs Forest — 4 bed: $2.4M (63 sales) Forestville — 4 bed: $2.63M (26 sales)

63 vs 26 sales

5 bed $2.78M / $3.12M
Frenchs Forest — 5 bed: $2.78M (44 sales) Forestville — 5 bed: $3.12M (25 sales)

44 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Forestville has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 12%).

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Residential 52% 56%
Environmental 12% 27%
Parks and recreation 13% 14%
Commercial 8% 1%
Other and special use 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Frenchs Forest Forestville
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
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.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Houses 3.5%
$1,500/wk on $2.24M
 3.3%
$1,295/wk on $2.04M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Frenchs Forest Forestville
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW

Liveability

Forestville scores higher overall (63 vs 54).

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Frenchs Forest carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 74).

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
74/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Low
23/100
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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 4 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.7 km
 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 8.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 2.9%

Schools in Frenchs Forest

  • Davidson High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Frenchs Forest Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mimosa Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • The Forest High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Forestville

  • Forestville Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • High School Campus for Yanginanook School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Vern Barnett School Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Forestville Montessori School Independent · Primary
  • Aspect Vern Barnett School, Forestville Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 19 12
Parks & reserves 29 20
Childcare 9 8
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 3 0
Waterways 17 5

Mobility

Frenchs Forest sits further from the CBD (17 km vs 14.6 km).

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Walkability score 80/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 17 km
+14% vs other
 14.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 22 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 524.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 335.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2086
 2.4%
postcode 2087
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2086
 39
postcode 2087

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.

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Worked from Home 53.0% / 55.2%
Frenchs Forest — Worked from Home: 53.0% Forestville — Worked from Home: 55.2%
Car (driver) 39.4% / 36.7%
Frenchs Forest — Car (driver): 39.4% Forestville — Car (driver): 36.7%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.7%
Frenchs Forest — Car (passenger): 2.8% Forestville — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Bus 2.5% / 2.7%
Frenchs Forest — Bus: 2.5% Forestville — Bus: 2.7%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.7%
Frenchs Forest — Walked Only: 1.7% Forestville — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.2%).

Setting

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Elevation 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 120 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.7 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 6.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
5,277 premises
 1%
3,244 premises

Climate

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Frenchs Forest Forestville
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Frenchs Forest Forestville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Frenchs Forest

Easy Commute Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

Forestville

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Frenchs Forest

Frenchs Forest vs Belrose Frenchs Forest vs Beacon Hill Frenchs Forest vs Allambie Heights Frenchs Forest vs Killarney Heights Frenchs Forest vs East Killara Frenchs Forest vs Davidson

Other comparisons with Forestville

Forestville vs Killarney Heights
Full data on Frenchs Forest Full data on Forestville
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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