Wacol vs Forest Lake

In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wacol, about half of households rent. In Forest Lake, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Forest Lake: a median of $970,000, against $848,000 in Wacol, and rent is higher there too. Wacol is closer to the city centre: 21 km, against 25.5 km. On these figures, Wacol tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Forest Lake suits families with children and 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

Forest Lake

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (59 vs 7)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • 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

Forest Lake

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($900,000 vs $1,615,625)
  • has cheaper units ($579,000 vs $650,000)
  • But Wacol has cheaper houses ($847,500 vs $970,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wacol

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wacol

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 4%)
  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 32 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (21 km vs 25.5 km)
  • But Forest Lake is more walkable (82/100 vs 52/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Forest Lake

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Wacol has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 5%)

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

Investors

Wacol

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -1.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wacol Forest Lake
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.

Wacol Forest Lake
Walkability 52 / 82
Wacol — Walkability: 52/100 Forest Lake — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 8 / 38
Wacol — Safety: 8/100 Forest Lake — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Wacol — Low fire risk: 100/100 Forest Lake — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Forest Lake has more residents (22,676 vs 4,253); Forest Lake has higher household incomes ($99,892 vs $71,708).

Wacol Forest Lake
Population 4,253 22,676
+433% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% -1.0%
Median age 35 37
Median household income $71,708/yr $99,892/yr
+39% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $390/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wacol Forest Lake
0-4 0.8% / 6.0%
Wacol — 0-4: 0.8% Forest Lake — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 2.0% / 14.2%
Wacol — 5-14: 2.0% Forest Lake — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 4.6% / 7.5%
Wacol — 15-19: 4.6% Forest Lake — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 9.5% / 6.0%
Wacol — 20-24: 9.5% Forest Lake — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 31.2% / 12.3%
Wacol — 25-34: 31.2% Forest Lake — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 27.1% / 13.7%
Wacol — 35-44: 27.1% Forest Lake — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 13.7% / 15.2%
Wacol — 45-54: 13.7% Forest Lake — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 6.4% / 11.9%
Wacol — 55-64: 6.4% Forest Lake — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 3.0% / 7.8%
Wacol — 65-74: 3.0% Forest Lake — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 1.5% / 4.1%
Wacol — 75-84: 1.5% Forest Lake — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 0.4% / 1.2%
Wacol — 85+: 0.4% Forest Lake — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wacol 27.7% couple families
Wacol — Couple Families: 27.7% Wacol — Lone Person: 31.6% Wacol — One Parent Families: 26.8% Wacol — Group Household: 10.8% Wacol — Other Families: 3.0%
Forest Lake 52.1% couple families
Forest Lake — Couple Families: 52.1% Forest Lake — Lone Person: 24.8% Forest Lake — One Parent Families: 18.7% Forest Lake — Group Household: 2.8% Forest Lake — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wacol 47.1% renting
Wacol — Owned Outright: 29.3% Wacol — Mortgage: 23.6% Wacol — Renting: 47.1%
Forest Lake 26.6% renting
Forest Lake — Owned Outright: 25.4% Forest Lake — Mortgage: 48.0% Forest Lake — Renting: 26.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wacol Forest Lake
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 13.0%
Wacol — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Forest Lake — Certificate III & IV: 13.0%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 13.1%
Wacol — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Forest Lake — Bachelor Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 1.0% / 8.2%
Wacol — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 1.0% Forest Lake — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 0.4% / 4.8%
Wacol — Postgraduate Degree: 0.4% Forest Lake — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.2% / 2.0%
Wacol — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.2% Forest Lake — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.1%).

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.

Wacol Forest Lake
New Zealand 5.1% / 6.2%
Wacol — New Zealand: 5.1% Forest Lake — New Zealand: 6.2%
Vietnam 0.9% / 5.3%
Wacol — Vietnam: 0.9% Forest Lake — Vietnam: 5.3%
England 1.9% / 3.7%
Wacol — England: 1.9% Forest Lake — England: 3.7%
India 0.4% / 3.6%
Wacol — India: 0.4% Forest Lake — India: 3.6%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.4%
Wacol — Philippines: 0.8% Forest Lake — Philippines: 1.4%
China 0.3% / 1.7%
Wacol — China: 0.3% Forest Lake — China: 1.7%
Fiji 0.4% / —
Wacol — Fiji: 0.4% Forest Lake — Fiji: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wacol 82.4% houses
Wacol — Houses: 82.4% Wacol — Townhouses: 17.0% Wacol — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Forest Lake 94.9% houses
Forest Lake — Houses: 94.9% Forest Lake — Townhouses: 3.4% Forest Lake — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wacol Forest Lake
Median house price $847,500 $970,000
Median unit price $650,000 $579,000
Median land price $1,615,625 $900,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 3 sales
 20 days
from 262 sales

Development activity

Wacol Forest Lake
New dwellings approved 9,382
across Brisbane
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Wacol Forest Lake
Houses — 4.0%
$730/wk on $949K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within QLD

Wacol Forest Lake
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 41% of QLD Higher than 74% of QLD
Schools Higher than 44% of QLD Higher than 49% of QLD
Walkability Higher than 88% of QLD Higher than 96% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 87% of QLD Higher than 90% of QLD
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of QLD Higher than 84% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 55% of QLD

Liveability

Forest Lake scores higher overall (63 vs 32); Forest Lake is more walkable (82 vs 52).

Wacol Forest Lake
Grade D B
Score 32/100 63/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Wacol carries more crime risk (92 vs 62).

Wacol Forest Lake
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 22
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Wacol Forest Lake
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Wacol

  • Carole Park State School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brisbane Youth Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school
  • Wacol Youth Remand Education Support Hub Government · Combined · Special school
  • West Moreton Education and Training Centre Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Forest Lake

  • Forest Lake State High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Forest Lake State School Government · Primary at peers
  • Grand Avenue State School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's Anglican College Independent · Secondary below peers
  • Arethusa College - Forest Lake Campus Independent · Secondary
  • St John's Anglican College - Alpine Place Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Wacol Forest Lake
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 7 59
Childcare 2 9
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 8 24

Mobility

Forest Lake sits further from the CBD (25.5 km vs 21 km).

Wacol Forest Lake
Walkability score 52/100 82/100
Distance to Brisbane 21 km 25.5 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 32 min
Public transport score 81/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 44.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 288.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 4076
 1.5%
postcode 4078
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 68
postcode 4076
 67
postcode 4078

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.

Wacol Forest Lake
Car (driver) 65.7% / 69.0%
Wacol — Car (driver): 65.7% Forest Lake — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 12.6% / 17.8%
Wacol — Worked from Home: 12.6% Forest Lake — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Train 10.1% / 3.9%
Wacol — Train: 10.1% Forest Lake — Train: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 7.2% / 5.7%
Wacol — Car (passenger): 7.2% Forest Lake — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 3.2% / 1.1%
Wacol — Walked Only: 3.2% Forest Lake — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus — / 2.3%
Wacol — Bus: not among its largest Forest Lake — Bus: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.0%).

Setting

Wacol Forest Lake
Elevation 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 26.3 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Wacol Forest Lake
Connectivity score 93/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 85%
993 premises
 36%
8,634 premises

Climate

Wacol Forest Lake
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)

Wacol Forest Lake
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.99 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Wacol Forest Lake
Average residential rate $1,519/yr
same for both
Council Brisbane
same for both

Federal electorate

Wacol Forest Lake
Division Oxley
same for both
Member Milton Dick
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wacol Forest Lake
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wacol

Middle-Ring Multicultural Trains Transport Hub

Forest Lake

Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wacol

Wacol vs Goodna Wacol vs Richlands Wacol vs Moggill Wacol vs Riverhills Wacol vs Darra Wacol vs Ellen Grove

Other comparisons with Forest Lake

Forest Lake vs Inala Forest Lake vs Greenbank Forest Lake vs Doolandella Forest Lake vs Richlands Forest Lake vs Heathwood Forest Lake vs Pallara
Full data on Wacol Full data on Forest Lake
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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