Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Forest Lake suburb profile
Forest Lake, QLD · Postcode 4078
This Forest Lake suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Forest Lake, QLD (postcode 4078). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Forest Lake with nearby suburbs.
Forest Lake at a glance
Population
22,676
Median rent
$390/wk
Household income
$1,921/wk
Median age
37
Forest Lake trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+0.1% over 10 years
Population
22,676
was 22,904 in 2016
-228 · -1%
Median rent
$390/wk
was $370/wk in 2016
+$20 · +5.4%
Household income
$1,921/wk
was $1,719/wk in 2016
+$202 · +11.8%
Median age
37
was 35 in 2016
+2 · +5.7%
Dig deeper: Forest Lake population growth · Forest Lake then and now
Forest Lake vs nearby & Greater Brisbane
Median Census 2021 figures for Forest Lake, nearby suburbs (8), and the Brisbane metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-7.1% vs area
- Forest Lake$390/wk
- Nearby$350/wk
- Brisbane$420/wk
Household income
-4.7% vs area
- Forest Lake$1,921/wk
- Nearby$1,469.5/wk
- Brisbane$2,015/wk
Median age
0% vs area
- Forest Lake37
- Nearby34
- Brisbane37
Personal income
-7.4% vs area
- Forest Lake$801/wk
- Nearby$660.5/wk
- Brisbane$865/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in QLD. See Brisbane rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Forest Lake compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Forest Lake sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 51,009.9
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6997.4
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 61,027.4
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 6996.4
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Forest Lake on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Forest Lake, QLD.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Forest Lake people
- Population
- 22,676
- Median age
- 37
- Born overseas
- 38.7%
- Average household size
- 2.8
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Forest Lake income
- Median household income
- $1,921/wk
- Median personal income
- $801/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Forest Lake housing
- Median rent
- $390/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,690/mo
- Separate houses
- 91.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 1.6%
- Owned outright
- 23.9%
- Mortgaged
- 45.2%
- Rented
- 25%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 3.6%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Forest Lake work
- Employment to population
- 62.9%
- Unemployment rate
- 5.5%
- Year 12 or above
- 67.5%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 4078)
Compare Forest Lake with nearby suburbs
Forest Lake in numbers
Forest Lake had 22,676 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 11th most populous suburb or locality in QLD out of 3,110. The median age is 37, 7% below the typical QLD suburb. The average household has 2.8 people. 38.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 23.9% own their home outright, 45.2% are paying a mortgage, 25% rent. Separate houses make up 91.5% of dwellings, with 1.6% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $390/wk, 11% above the typical QLD suburb.
Median household income was $1,921/wk, 14% above the typical QLD suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 5.5%. 67.5% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 5 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 1% (from 22,904 to 22,676). Median rent moved from $370/wk to $390/wk (+5.4%).
Forest Lake suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Forest Lake, QLD?
- The median weekly rent in Forest Lake was $390/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Forest Lake, QLD?
- Forest Lake had 22,676 residents at the 2021 Census, down 1% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Forest Lake?
- Median household income in Forest Lake was $1,921/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Forest Lake?
- 25% of occupied homes in Forest Lake were rented, 23.9% were owned outright and 45.2% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Forest Lake suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Forest Lake. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Brisbane