Millswood vs Forestville

Forestville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Millswood. In both, most households own their home. In Millswood, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Millswood: a median of $1.94 million, against $1.23 million in Forestville, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Millswood tends to suit couples, while Forestville suits people living alone 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

Millswood

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 54%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 50%)
  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 61/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Millswood has cheaper units ($508,000 vs $650,000)
  • Forestville has cheaper houses ($1,231,000 vs $1,939,750)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forestville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Forestville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 5%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Millswood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 14%)
  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Forestville has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Millswood 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.

Millswood 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.

Millswood Forestville
Walkability 88 / 86
Millswood — Walkability: 88/100 Forestville — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 53 / 39
Millswood — Safety: 53/100 Forestville — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Millswood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Forestville — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 16 / 10
Millswood — Low flood risk: 16/100 Forestville — Low flood risk: 10/100

Demographics

Millswood has more residents (2,173 vs 1,400); Millswood has higher household incomes ($147,472 vs $103,012).

Millswood Forestville
Population 2,173
+36% vs other
 1,400
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +0.8%
Median age 45 39
Median household income $147,472/yr
+30% vs other
 $103,012/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+19% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Millswood Forestville
0-4 3.8% / 5.2%
Millswood — 0-4: 3.8% Forestville — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.8% / 10.3%
Millswood — 5-14: 13.8% Forestville — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 7.2% / 4.5%
Millswood — 15-19: 7.2% Forestville — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 6.5% / 6.1%
Millswood — 20-24: 6.5% Forestville — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 7.6% / 17.1%
Millswood — 25-34: 7.6% Forestville — 25-34: 17.1%
35-44 10.3% / 16.3%
Millswood — 35-44: 10.3% Forestville — 35-44: 16.3%
45-54 14.9% / 13.8%
Millswood — 45-54: 14.9% Forestville — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 14.8% / 12.8%
Millswood — 55-64: 14.8% Forestville — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 12.1% / 9.3%
Millswood — 65-74: 12.1% Forestville — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 7.4% / 3.6%
Millswood — 75-84: 7.4% Forestville — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 1.7% / 1.5%
Millswood — 85+: 1.7% Forestville — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Millswood 54.8% couple families
Millswood — Couple Families: 54.8% Millswood — Lone Person: 30.1% Millswood — One Parent Families: 12.1% Millswood — Group Household: 2.0% Millswood — Other Families: 1.1%
Forestville 35.9% couple families
Forestville — Couple Families: 35.9% Forestville — Lone Person: 40.3% Forestville — One Parent Families: 13.8% Forestville — Group Household: 8.9% Forestville — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Millswood 14.0% renting
Millswood — Owned Outright: 51.3% Millswood — Mortgage: 34.7% Millswood — Renting: 14.0%
Forestville 32.8% renting
Forestville — Owned Outright: 30.7% Forestville — Mortgage: 36.6% Forestville — Renting: 32.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Millswood Forestville
Bachelor Degree 24.1% / 23.8%
Millswood — Bachelor Degree: 24.1% Forestville — Bachelor Degree: 23.8%
Postgraduate Degree 9.7% / 10.4%
Millswood — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7% Forestville — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 11.1%
Millswood — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Forestville — Certificate III & IV: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.0%
Millswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Forestville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.6%
Millswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Forestville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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.

Millswood Forestville
England 4.5% / 4.6%
Millswood — England: 4.5% Forestville — England: 4.6%
Greece 1.1% / 1.8%
Millswood — Greece: 1.1% Forestville — Greece: 1.8%
India 0.9% / 1.7%
Millswood — India: 0.9% Forestville — India: 1.7%
China 1.0% / 0.8%
Millswood — China: 1.0% Forestville — China: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.8%
Millswood — New Zealand: 0.9% Forestville — New Zealand: 0.8%
Scotland 1.0% / —
Millswood — Scotland: 1.0% Forestville — Scotland: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.9%
Millswood — Germany: not among its largest Forestville — Germany: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Millswood 90.1% houses
Millswood — Houses: 90.1% Millswood — Townhouses: 5.6% Millswood — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Forestville 53.5% houses
Forestville — Houses: 53.5% Forestville — Townhouses: 26.1% Forestville — Flats / Apartments: 20.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Millswood Forestville
Median house price $1,939,750 $1,231,000
Median unit price $508,000 $650,000
Median land price — $444,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 20 sales
 22 days
from 8 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.

Millswood Forestville
3 bed $1.89M / $1.39M
Millswood — 3 bed: $1.89M (24 sales) Forestville — 3 bed: $1.39M (12 sales)

24 vs 12 sales

4 bed $2.15M / $1.73M
Millswood — 4 bed: $2.15M (5 sales) Forestville — 4 bed: $1.73M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Millswood Forestville
Residential 95% 89%
Commercial 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
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

Millswood Forestville
New dwellings approved 273
across Unley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -67%
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.

Millswood Forestville
Houses — 2.1%
$645/wk on $1.6M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within SA

Millswood Forestville
House price Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 76% of SA
Income Higher than 98% of SA Higher than 81% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 96% of SA
Affordability Higher than 53% of SA Higher than 38% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 91% of SA Higher than 98% of SA
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of SA
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 2% of SA

Liveability

Millswood scores higher overall (80 vs 68).

Millswood Forestville
Grade A
same for both
Score 80/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Forestville carries more crime risk (61 vs 47).

Millswood Forestville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
61/100
Flood High
84/100
 High
90/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Millswood Forestville
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
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.3 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 2.9%

Amenities in the suburb

Millswood Forestville
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 3 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 8 13

Mobility

Millswood Forestville
Walkability score 88/100 86/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.4 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 8 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 5034
 2.7%
postcode 5035
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 5034
 40
postcode 5035

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.

Millswood Forestville
Car (driver) 60.7% / 57.9%
Millswood — Car (driver): 60.7% Forestville — Car (driver): 57.9%
Worked from Home 17.7% / 14.9%
Millswood — Worked from Home: 17.7% Forestville — Worked from Home: 14.9%
Bicycle 6.5% / 7.4%
Millswood — Bicycle: 6.5% Forestville — Bicycle: 7.4%
Tram / Light Rail 1.9% / 7.9%
Millswood — Tram / Light Rail: 1.9% Forestville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.9%
Walked Only 3.7% / 3.1%
Millswood — Walked Only: 3.7% Forestville — Walked Only: 3.1%
Bus 2.7% / 4.0%
Millswood — Bus: 2.7% Forestville — Bus: 4.0%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.8%
Millswood — Car (passenger): 3.9% Forestville — Car (passenger): 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.7%).

Setting

Millswood Forestville
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.3 km 6.8 km

NBN connectivity

Millswood Forestville
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
869 premises
 1%
711 premises

Climate

Millswood Forestville
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Millswood Forestville
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Millswood Forestville
Average residential rate $2,288/yr
same for both
Council Unley
same for both

Federal electorate

Millswood Forestville
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Millswood Forestville
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Millswood

Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Trains Transport Hub

Forestville

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Millswood

Millswood vs Goodwood Millswood vs Clarence Park Millswood vs Black Forest Millswood vs Hyde Park Millswood vs Unley Park Millswood vs Kings Park

Other comparisons with Forestville

Forestville vs Goodwood Forestville vs Black Forest Forestville vs Wayville Forestville vs Ashford Forestville vs Everard Park Forestville vs Keswick
Full data on Millswood Full data on Forestville
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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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