Southern River vs Forrestdale

Southern River is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 41 in Forrestdale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Southern River, most households are couple families. In Forrestdale, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Southern River: a median of $1.05 million, against $885,000 in Forrestdale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Southern River tends to suit families with children and couples, while Forrestdale suits 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

Southern River

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Forrestdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($885,000 vs $1,047,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forrestdale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Southern River

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 32/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (27.9 km vs 30.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Southern River

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 32/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 94/100)
  • But Forrestdale has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Southern River

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (24.2% vs -4.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Southern River Forrestdale
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.

Southern River Forrestdale
Walkability 66 / 32
Southern River — Walkability: 66/100 Forrestdale — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 45 / 6
Southern River — Safety: 45/100 Forrestdale — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 50 / 48
Southern River — Low fire risk: 50/100 Forrestdale — Low fire risk: 48/100
Low flood risk 74 / 70
Southern River — Low flood risk: 74/100 Forrestdale — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Southern River has more residents (12,852 vs 1,027); Southern River has higher household incomes ($122,928 vs $97,500).

Southern River Forrestdale
Population 12,852
+92% vs other
 1,027
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.2% -4.1%
Median age 33 41
Median household income $122,928/yr
+21% vs other
 $97,500/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+17% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southern River Forrestdale
0-4 7.5% / 5.9%
Southern River — 0-4: 7.5% Forrestdale — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 17.7% / 13.0%
Southern River — 5-14: 17.7% Forrestdale — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 7.6% / 5.8%
Southern River — 15-19: 7.6% Forrestdale — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.7% / 5.6%
Southern River — 20-24: 6.7% Forrestdale — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 12.7% / 12.3%
Southern River — 25-34: 12.7% Forrestdale — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 18.1% / 11.6%
Southern River — 35-44: 18.1% Forrestdale — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 13.9% / 14.7%
Southern River — 45-54: 13.9% Forrestdale — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 8.6% / 15.1%
Southern River — 55-64: 8.6% Forrestdale — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 5.0% / 10.6%
Southern River — 65-74: 5.0% Forrestdale — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 1.8% / 3.8%
Southern River — 75-84: 1.8% Forrestdale — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.3% / 1.2%
Southern River — 85+: 0.3% Forrestdale — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Southern River 70.5% couple families
Southern River — Couple Families: 70.5% Southern River — Lone Person: 14.0% Southern River — One Parent Families: 12.1% Southern River — Group Household: 2.0% Southern River — Other Families: 1.4%
Forrestdale 46.6% couple families
Forrestdale — Couple Families: 46.6% Forrestdale — Lone Person: 28.9% Forrestdale — One Parent Families: 20.2% Forrestdale — Group Household: 4.3% Forrestdale — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Southern River 16.9% renting
Southern River — Owned Outright: 20.0% Southern River — Mortgage: 63.1% Southern River — Renting: 16.9%
Forrestdale 18.8% renting
Forrestdale — Owned Outright: 33.8% Forrestdale — Mortgage: 47.4% Forrestdale — Renting: 18.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Southern River Forrestdale
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 18.9%
Southern River — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Forrestdale — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 8.7%
Southern River — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Forrestdale — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.5%
Southern River — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Forrestdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 1.6%
Southern River — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Forrestdale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.1%
Southern River — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Forrestdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

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.

Southern River Forrestdale
England 5.2% / 6.8%
Southern River — England: 5.2% Forrestdale — England: 6.8%
India 7.6% / —
Southern River — India: 7.6% Forrestdale — India: not among its largest
South Africa 3.1% / 2.7%
Southern River — South Africa: 3.1% Forrestdale — South Africa: 2.7%
New Zealand 2.2% / 3.4%
Southern River — New Zealand: 2.2% Forrestdale — New Zealand: 3.4%
Malaysia 4.2% / 0.6%
Southern River — Malaysia: 4.2% Forrestdale — Malaysia: 0.6%
China 3.2% / —
Southern River — China: 3.2% Forrestdale — China: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.3%
Southern River — Scotland: not among its largest Forrestdale — Scotland: 1.3%
Italy — / 0.9%
Southern River — Italy: not among its largest Forrestdale — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southern River 97.1% houses
Southern River — Houses: 97.1% Southern River — Flats / Apartments: 0.5% Southern River — Townhouses: 2.4%
Forrestdale 97.7% houses
Forrestdale — Houses: 97.7% Forrestdale — Flats / Apartments: 2.3% Forrestdale — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Southern River Forrestdale
Median house price $1,047,500 $885,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $735,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 149 sales
 30 days
from 45 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.

Southern River Forrestdale
3 bed $780K / $850K
Southern River — 3 bed: $780K (43 sales) Forrestdale — 3 bed: $850K (16 sales)

43 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $890K
Southern River — 4 bed: $1.08M (171 sales) Forrestdale — 4 bed: $890K (41 sales)

171 vs 41 sales

Development activity

Southern River Forrestdale
New dwellings approved 660
across Gosnells
 1,811
across Armadale
Approvals change year on year +17% +70%

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.

Southern River Forrestdale
Houses 4.2%
$815/wk on $1M
 4.3%
$782/wk on $949K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Southern River Forrestdale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 88% of WA Higher than 64% of WA
Schools Higher than 98% of WA Higher than 73% of WA
Walkability Higher than 89% of WA Higher than 78% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of WA Higher than 84% of WA
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 93% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of WA Higher than 44% of WA

Liveability

Southern River is more walkable (66 vs 32); Southern River scores higher overall (68 vs 41).

Southern River Forrestdale
Grade B C
Score 68/100 41/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Forrestdale carries more crime risk (94 vs 55).

Southern River Forrestdale
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 High
94/100
Flood Low
26/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Southern River Forrestdale
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Southern River

  • Bletchley Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Providence Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Southern Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Yarralinka Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Forrestdale

  • Australian Islamic College (Forrestdale) Independent · Combined above peers
  • Carey Baptist College Forrestdale Independent · Combined at peers
  • Forrestdale Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Southern River Forrestdale
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 2
Parks & reserves 18 6
Childcare 10 5
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 5 6
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Forrestdale sits further from the CBD (30.1 km vs 27.9 km).

Southern River Forrestdale
Walkability score 66/100 32/100
Distance to Perth 27.9 km 30.1 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 152.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 64.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 6110
 1.2%
postcode 6112
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 6110
 75
postcode 6112

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.

Southern River Forrestdale
Car (driver) 78.5% / 72.7%
Southern River — Car (driver): 78.5% Forrestdale — Car (driver): 72.7%
Worked from Home 8.0% / 12.4%
Southern River — Worked from Home: 8.0% Forrestdale — Worked from Home: 12.4%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 6.1%
Southern River — Car (passenger): 5.3% Forrestdale — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Train 5.3% / 2.6%
Southern River — Train: 5.3% Forrestdale — Train: 2.6%
Walked Only 0.7% / 4.2%
Southern River — Walked Only: 0.7% Forrestdale — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bus 2.1% / 1.4%
Southern River — Bus: 2.1% Forrestdale — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Southern River Forrestdale
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.6 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 15.2 km

NBN connectivity

Southern River Forrestdale
Connectivity score 87/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 75%
5,318 premises
 71%
1,262 premises

Climate

Southern River Forrestdale
Annual rainfall 745 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Southern River Forrestdale
Average residential rate $2,067/yr $2,388/yr
Council Gosnells Armadale

Federal electorate

Southern River Forrestdale
Division Burt
same for both
Member Matt Keogh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Southern River Forrestdale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Southern River

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet

Forrestdale

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southern River

Southern River vs Canning Vale Southern River vs Thornlie Southern River vs Gosnells Southern River vs Harrisdale Southern River vs Huntingdale Southern River vs Champion Lakes

Other comparisons with Forrestdale

Forrestdale vs Piara Waters Forrestdale vs Harrisdale Forrestdale vs Seville Grove Forrestdale vs Wandi Forrestdale vs Treeby Forrestdale vs Hilbert
Full data on Southern River Full data on Forrestdale
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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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