Forestdale sits 34 km from Brisbane CBD in Queensland, around 33 minutes by car. Census data records 2,560 residents with a median age of 43 and a median household income of $139,100 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 20% nationally. Population grew 1.1% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $500 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,383. The area shows no recorded bushfire exposure. Walkability is low.
Is Forestdale a good suburb?
Forestdale scores a A (73/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on community.
Some car dependence
Walkability 23/100 · 33.8 km · 33 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $1.8M
Moderate crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 51/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 10/10 · median age 43 · 2,560 residents
Liveability Rating
73 / 100 · Ranked #134 in QLDEach bar is Forestdale's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
Flood data for Queensland covers only the areas mapped there — a blank here is not an all-clear.
How do you rate the liveability in Forestdale?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
73 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataForestdale's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $1.8 million, about 10% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$1,800,000
80% above its 5 neighbours (median $1,000,000)
Based on 31 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
By bedrooms
- 4 bed 8 sales $1.79M
- 5 bed 13 sales $1.87M
Land
$1,700,000
Based on only 3 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Forestdale rent for around $985 a week on average, based on 3 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$985/wk
3 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025111 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 27% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4118.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Is Forestdale safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Forestdale sits in the moderate band, with 17 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 31% on the prior year.
17 offences
30.8% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202418 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 1 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Forestdale is very car-dependent on foot — at 23/100, nearly all errands require a car.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Forestdale.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 4.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 3.8 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 1.6 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1 min
- Span of service
- 15.7 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Forestdale.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 41%
- Premises covered
- 875
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Logan: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 6 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 2 different deciles — a narrow range, so the average describes the suburb closely.
Forestdale is home to about 2,600 residents, with a median age of 43, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $139,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.4%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
2,560
Median Age
43
Median Household Income
$139,100/yr
Census Median Rent
$500/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,383/mo
Avg Household Size
3.1
Median Personal Income
$45,864/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Unoccupied Dwellings
4.2%
Total Dwellings
785
Owner-Occupier Rate
94.2%
Houses
98.9%
Rental Stress
18.7%
Mortgage Stress
20.6%
Work From Home
18.7%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 69.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 77.7%
- Employment Rate
- 64%
- Completed Year 12
- 50.1%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
46 residents (1.8%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 2,461 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
8% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (115 of 1,354).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 308 people work here; 1,354 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.2 jobs per working resident. At least 77% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,681 a year through Logan based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Logan
In the year to August 2026, 4,950 new dwellings were approved across Logan. That mix is 3,603 houses and 1,347 units. Approvals are down 7.7% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: 2 to 10 homes
- Within 2 years 2 to 10 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (2 parcels), by when it expects lots to be registered. Yields are published in ranges, so these are too.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Yuggera Ugarapul People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. A native title claim over this area is registered with the Federal Court.
Air Quality
CLEANPM2.5 averaged 4.9 µg/m³ in 2025 — below the WHO 2021 annual guideline (5 µg/m³).
PM10 averaged 13.1 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.27 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 0 · NO₂ 0 · ozone 0.
From the North Maclean (South East Queensland) monitoring station, 12.2 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Archerfield Airport, 10.2 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 51 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 28.1 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,032 mm
- 84 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 30.5°C
- 6 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 8.9°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 4118, 246 of 25,536 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 3.2% (817 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 4.2%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4118, 8,272 rooftop-solar systems totalling 49.0 MW have been installed since 2001, against 10,581 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 406 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
2 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb, 7 across postcode 4118.
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $1,800,000 this is $1,050,000 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-26 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Scott Buchholz Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scott Buchholz | 42.0% | 58.0% | +2.9 |
| 2022 | Scott Buchholz | 39.1% | 60.9% | -3.7 |
| 2019 | Scott Buchholz | 35.4% | 64.6% | +5.0 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Leeanne Enoch Australian Labor Party (State of Queensland)
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Leeanne Enoch ALP | 57.5% |
| 2020 | Leeanne Enoch ALP | 67.8% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Forestdale?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 2,560 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Featured in
Checking the whole city?
Suburbs to avoid in Brisbane There is no list of bad suburbs, but there are hazards the state measures and publishes — recorded crime, bushfire exposure, flood overlays and aircraft noise. Brisbane suburbs ranked on them, with what the numbers do and don't mean.Nearby suburbs
Compare Forestdale to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Forestdale
Is Forestdale a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Forestdale is moderate (51/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Forestdale?
Forestdale has no recorded bushfire history. These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Forestdale a good place to live?
Forestdale has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of A (73/100), ranked against other QLD suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Forestdale?
Forestdale, QLD had a population of 2,560 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Forestdale, QLD?
The postcode for Forestdale, QLD is 4118.
How far is Forestdale from Brisbane?
Forestdale is 34 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 33 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Forestdale?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Forestdale was $139,100 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Forestdale?
The median advertised rent in Forestdale is $985 a week for houses (3 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Forestdale?
The median age of residents in Forestdale was 43 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is Forestdale walkable?
Forestdale scores 23/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it very car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Forestdale?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Forestdale (North Maclean (South East Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 4.9 µg/m³ and PM10 of 13.1 µg/m³. That puts Forestdale below the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Forestdale?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Forestdale, Archerfield Airport (10.2 km away), summer days average 30.5°C, winter nights 8.9°C, 1,032 mm of rain a year over 84 rainy days, and 6 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Forestdale?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Forestdale belong to?
Forestdale sits within the Logan local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Forestdale?
The average residential rates bill through Logan is $1,681 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Forestdale?
Across Logan, 4,950 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 7.7% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Forestdale in?
Forestdale sits within the federal Division of Wright, currently held by Scott Buchholz (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
Was the information on this page useful to you?
Thanks! Anything we could improve?
We hate spam as much as you do — we'll never use your email for marketing, and we might not be able to reply to everyone.
Thanks for your feedback! 🙏
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.