Heathwood vs Forestdale

Heathwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 43 in Forestdale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Forestdale: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.08 million in Heathwood, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Heathwood tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Forestdale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 6)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 64/100)

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

First-home buyers

Heathwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,080,000 vs $1,800,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,266,500 vs $1,700,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heathwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($455/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heathwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 23/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Forestdale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 5%)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Heathwood is more walkable (44/100 vs 23/100)

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

Investors

Heathwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (77.0% vs 1.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Heathwood Forestdale
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.

Heathwood Forestdale
Walkability 44 / 23
Heathwood — Walkability: 44/100 Forestdale — Walkability: 23/100
Safety 36 / 49
Heathwood — Safety: 36/100 Forestdale — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heathwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Forestdale — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Heathwood has more residents (4,944 vs 2,560); Forestdale skews older (43 vs 32).

Heathwood Forestdale
Population 4,944
+48% vs other
 2,560
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +77.0% +1.1%
Median age 32 43
Median household income $131,404/yr $139,100/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $455/wk $500/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heathwood Forestdale
0-4 9.8% / 3.9%
Heathwood — 0-4: 9.8% Forestdale — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 16.9% / 13.6%
Heathwood — 5-14: 16.9% Forestdale — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 6.0% / 7.3%
Heathwood — 15-19: 6.0% Forestdale — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.7% / 6.8%
Heathwood — 20-24: 5.7% Forestdale — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 17.7% / 8.0%
Heathwood — 25-34: 17.7% Forestdale — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 20.9% / 11.7%
Heathwood — 35-44: 20.9% Forestdale — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 11.6% / 15.3%
Heathwood — 45-54: 11.6% Forestdale — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 6.8% / 15.7%
Heathwood — 55-64: 6.8% Forestdale — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 3.5% / 13.6%
Heathwood — 65-74: 3.5% Forestdale — 65-74: 13.6%
75-84 1.1% / 3.5%
Heathwood — 75-84: 1.1% Forestdale — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 0.1% / 0.4%
Heathwood — 85+: 0.1% Forestdale — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heathwood 75.9% couple families
Heathwood — Couple Families: 75.9% Heathwood — One Parent Families: 12.0% Heathwood — Lone Person: 8.0% Heathwood — Group Household: 2.7% Heathwood — Other Families: 1.5%
Forestdale 71.3% couple families
Forestdale — Couple Families: 71.3% Forestdale — One Parent Families: 12.6% Forestdale — Lone Person: 13.8% Forestdale — Group Household: 1.7% Forestdale — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heathwood 25.0% renting
Heathwood — Owned Outright: 11.0% Heathwood — Mortgage: 64.0% Heathwood — Renting: 25.0%
Forestdale 5.8% renting
Forestdale — Owned Outright: 46.1% Forestdale — Mortgage: 48.1% Forestdale — Renting: 5.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heathwood Forestdale
Bachelor Degree 17.5% / 14.6%
Heathwood — Bachelor Degree: 17.5% Forestdale — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 16.5%
Heathwood — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Forestdale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.4%
Heathwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Forestdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.1% / 3.8%
Heathwood — Postgraduate Degree: 8.1% Forestdale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.8%
Heathwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Forestdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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.

Heathwood Forestdale
India 13.9% / 1.7%
Heathwood — India: 13.9% Forestdale — India: 1.7%
Vietnam 6.1% / 3.3%
Heathwood — Vietnam: 6.1% Forestdale — Vietnam: 3.3%
New Zealand 5.1% / 3.4%
Heathwood — New Zealand: 5.1% Forestdale — New Zealand: 3.4%
England 1.6% / 5.1%
Heathwood — England: 1.6% Forestdale — England: 5.1%
China 2.0% / 1.0%
Heathwood — China: 2.0% Forestdale — China: 1.0%
Sri Lanka 2.9% / —
Heathwood — Sri Lanka: 2.9% Forestdale — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.5%
Heathwood — South Africa: not among its largest Forestdale — South Africa: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heathwood 95.8% houses
Heathwood — Houses: 95.8% Heathwood — Townhouses: 3.3% Heathwood — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Forestdale 98.9% houses
Forestdale — Houses: 98.9% Forestdale — Townhouses: 0.0% Forestdale — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heathwood Forestdale
Median house price $1,080,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,266,500 $1,700,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 20 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.

Heathwood Forestdale
4 bed $1.04M / $1.79M
Heathwood — 4 bed: $1.04M (32 sales) Forestdale — 4 bed: $1.79M (8 sales)

32 vs 8 sales

5 bed $1.24M / $1.87M
Heathwood — 5 bed: $1.24M (12 sales) Forestdale — 5 bed: $1.87M (13 sales)

12 vs 13 sales

Development activity

Heathwood Forestdale
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
 4,950
across Logan
Approvals change year on year +9% -8%

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.

Heathwood Forestdale
Houses 3.1%
$760/wk on $1.27M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Heathwood Forestdale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 95% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of QLD Higher than 80% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of QLD Higher than 86% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of QLD —

Liveability

Heathwood is more walkable (44 vs 23).

Heathwood Forestdale
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Heathwood carries more crime risk (64 vs 51).

Heathwood Forestdale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood — Not mapped
no mapped data here
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Heathwood Forestdale
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Heathwood Forestdale
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 6 10
Childcare 2 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Heathwood Forestdale
Walkability score 44/100 23/100
Distance to Brisbane 32.9 km 33.8 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 33 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 70.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 4110
 1.0%
postcode 4118
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 93
postcode 4110
 78
postcode 4118

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.

Heathwood Forestdale
Car (driver) 69.7% / 72.6%
Heathwood — Car (driver): 69.7% Forestdale — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 18.7%
Heathwood — Worked from Home: 18.2% Forestdale — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.4%
Heathwood — Car (passenger): 5.4% Forestdale — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bus 3.5% / 1.0%
Heathwood — Bus: 3.5% Forestdale — Bus: 1.0%
Train 3.0% / 1.1%
Heathwood — Train: 3.0% Forestdale — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.6%).

Setting

Heathwood Forestdale
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 26.6 km 28.1 km

NBN connectivity

Heathwood Forestdale
Connectivity score 85/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 72%
1,803 premises
 41%
875 premises

Climate

Heathwood Forestdale
Annual rainfall 1,032 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Heathwood Forestdale
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³ 4.9 µg/m³
PM10 17.3 µg/m³ 13.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.99 pphm 0.27 pphm

Council rates

Heathwood Forestdale
Average residential rate $1,519/yr $1,681/yr
Council Brisbane Logan

Federal electorate

Heathwood Forestdale
Division Oxley Wright
Member Milton Dick Scott Buchholz
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal National Party of Queensland

First Home Owner Grant

Heathwood Forestdale
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Heathwood

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Young Families

Forestdale

Acreage Outer Parks Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heathwood

Heathwood vs Forest Lake Heathwood vs Greenbank Heathwood vs Pallara

Other comparisons with Forestdale

Forestdale vs Parkinson Forestdale vs Greenbank Forestdale vs Boronia Heights Forestdale vs Hillcrest
Full data on Heathwood Full data on Forestdale
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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