Lake Albert vs Forest Hill

Forest Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 25 against 43 in Lake Albert. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lake Albert: a median of $712,000, against $602,000 in Forest Hill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lake Albert tends to suit older residents, while Forest Hill suits young adults 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

Lake Albert

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 66/100)

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

First-home buyers

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($281,500 vs $426,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($602,500 vs $712,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Lake Albert has a shorter drive in (287 min vs 308 min)
  • Forest Hill is more walkable (58/100 vs 50/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lake Albert

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 7%)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 66/100)
  • But Forest Hill is more walkable (58/100 vs 50/100)

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

Investors

Forest Hill

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (35.5% vs 1.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lake Albert Forest Hill
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.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Walkability 50 / 58
Lake Albert — Walkability: 50/100 Forest Hill — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 56 / 34
Lake Albert — Safety: 56/100 Forest Hill — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 82 / 72
Lake Albert — Low fire risk: 82/100 Forest Hill — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Lake Albert has more residents (6,291 vs 3,081); Lake Albert skews older (43 vs 25).

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Population 6,291
+51% vs other
 3,081
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +35.5%
Median age 43 25
Median household income $98,332/yr
+5% vs other
 $92,976/yr
Median weekly rent $340/wk
+9% vs other
 $310/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
0-4 5.2% / 7.3%
Lake Albert — 0-4: 5.2% Forest Hill — 0-4: 7.3%
5-14 14.3% / 14.2%
Lake Albert — 5-14: 14.3% Forest Hill — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.8% / 13.3%
Lake Albert — 15-19: 6.8% Forest Hill — 15-19: 13.3%
20-24 4.6% / 14.2%
Lake Albert — 20-24: 4.6% Forest Hill — 20-24: 14.2%
25-34 10.0% / 15.7%
Lake Albert — 25-34: 10.0% Forest Hill — 25-34: 15.7%
35-44 11.2% / 13.4%
Lake Albert — 35-44: 11.2% Forest Hill — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 12.3% / 9.2%
Lake Albert — 45-54: 12.3% Forest Hill — 45-54: 9.2%
55-64 12.7% / 6.5%
Lake Albert — 55-64: 12.7% Forest Hill — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 13.3% / 4.3%
Lake Albert — 65-74: 13.3% Forest Hill — 65-74: 4.3%
75-84 7.3% / 1.9%
Lake Albert — 75-84: 7.3% Forest Hill — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 2.3% / 0.4%
Lake Albert — 85+: 2.3% Forest Hill — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lake Albert 51.3% couple families
Lake Albert — Couple Families: 51.3% Lake Albert — Lone Person: 30.7% Lake Albert — One Parent Families: 14.4% Lake Albert — Group Household: 3.0% Lake Albert — Other Families: 0.5%
Forest Hill 51.5% couple families
Forest Hill — Couple Families: 51.5% Forest Hill — Lone Person: 25.1% Forest Hill — One Parent Families: 19.9% Forest Hill — Group Household: 2.4% Forest Hill — 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.

Lake Albert 16.4% renting
Lake Albert — Owned Outright: 43.7% Lake Albert — Mortgage: 39.9% Lake Albert — Renting: 16.4%
Forest Hill 36.1% renting
Forest Hill — Owned Outright: 18.1% Forest Hill — Mortgage: 45.8% Forest Hill — Renting: 36.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Certificate III & IV 18.9% / 18.8%
Lake Albert — Certificate III & IV: 18.9% Forest Hill — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 6.9%
Lake Albert — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% Forest Hill — Bachelor Degree: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.0%
Lake Albert — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Forest Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 1.4%
Lake Albert — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Forest Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 0.9%
Lake Albert — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Forest Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
England 1.6% / 1.0%
Lake Albert — England: 1.6% Forest Hill — England: 1.0%
India 0.3% / 1.3%
Lake Albert — India: 0.3% Forest Hill — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Lake Albert — New Zealand: 0.7% Forest Hill — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Lake Albert — Philippines: not among its largest Forest Hill — Philippines: 1.3%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.8%
Lake Albert — South Africa: 0.3% Forest Hill — South Africa: 0.8%
China 0.3% / —
Lake Albert — China: 0.3% Forest Hill — China: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Lake Albert — Netherlands: 0.3% Forest Hill — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lake Albert 95.6% houses
Lake Albert — Houses: 95.6% Lake Albert — Flats / Apartments: 3.8% Lake Albert — Townhouses: 0.7%
Forest Hill 89.9% houses
Forest Hill — Houses: 89.9% Forest Hill — Flats / Apartments: 9.1% Forest Hill — Townhouses: 1.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Median house price $712,000 $602,500
Median unit price $583,000 —
Median land price $426,000 $281,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 86 sales
 32 days
from 18 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.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
3 bed $655K / $558K
Lake Albert — 3 bed: $655K (69 sales) Forest Hill — 3 bed: $558K (26 sales)

69 vs 26 sales

4 bed $761K / $708K
Lake Albert — 4 bed: $761K (115 sales) Forest Hill — 4 bed: $708K (23 sales)

115 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Forest Hill has more rural and farming land (83% vs 34%).

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Rural and farming 34% 83%
Residential 49% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 12%
Parks and recreation 10% 0%
Environmental 4% 1%
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

Lake Albert Forest Hill
New dwellings approved 548
across Wagga Wagga
same for both
Approvals change year on year +139%
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.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Houses 3.7%
$600/wk on $844K
 4.4%
$580/wk on $681K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lake Albert Forest Hill
House price Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Income Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Schools Higher than 2% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW

Liveability

Forest Hill is more walkable (58 vs 50); Lake Albert scores higher overall (44 vs 39).

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100 39/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Forest Hill carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 18); Forest Hill carries more crime risk (66 vs 44).

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Bushfire Low
18/100
 Low
28/100
Crime Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
66/100
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

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lake Albert

  • Lake Albert Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mater Dei Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Mater Dei Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Forest Hill

  • Forest Hill Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 12 3
Childcare 4 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 8 4

Mobility

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Walkability score 50/100 58/100
Distance to Sydney 455.6 km 456.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 287 min 308 min
Public transport score 73/100
Bus
 40/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 32.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2650
 0.2%
postcode 2651
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2650
 42
postcode 2651

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.

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Car (driver) 81.5% / 62.1%
Lake Albert — Car (driver): 81.5% Forest Hill — Car (driver): 62.1%
Walked Only 1.6% / 25.5%
Lake Albert — Walked Only: 1.6% Forest Hill — Walked Only: 25.5%
Worked from Home 10.3% / 6.0%
Lake Albert — Worked from Home: 10.3% Forest Hill — Worked from Home: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.6%
Lake Albert — Car (passenger): 5.4% Forest Hill — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Bus 0.6% / 0.5%
Lake Albert — Bus: 0.6% Forest Hill — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.5%).

Setting

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Elevation 211 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 204 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Connectivity score 80/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
2,635 premises
 58%
1,024 premises

Climate

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Annual rainfall 565 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lake Albert Forest Hill
PM2.5 7.7 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 23.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Average residential rate $1,254/yr
same for both
Council Wagga Wagga
same for both

Federal electorate

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Division Riverina
same for both
Member Michael Mccormack
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lake Albert Forest Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lake Albert

Acreage Quiet

Forest Hill

Acreage Affordable Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lake Albert

Lake Albert vs Kooringal Lake Albert vs Tatton Lake Albert vs Springvale Lake Albert vs Gumly Gumly Lake Albert vs Gregadoo Lake Albert vs East Wagga Wagga

Other comparisons with Forest Hill

Forest Hill vs Gumly Gumly Forest Hill vs Ladysmith Forest Hill vs Gregadoo Forest Hill vs Eunanoreenya Forest Hill vs Alfredtown
Full data on Lake Albert Full data on Forest Hill
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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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