Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Forrest suburb profile
Forrest, VIC · Postcode 3236
This Forrest suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Forrest, VIC (postcode 3236). 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 Forrest with nearby suburbs.
Forrest at a glance
Population
257
Median rent
$290/wk
Household income
$1,091/wk
Median age
52
Forrest 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
+8% over 10 years
Population
257
was 230 in 2016
+27 · +11.7%
Median rent
$290/wk
was $225/wk in 2016
+$65 · +28.9%
Household income
$1,091/wk
was $875/wk in 2016
+$216 · +24.7%
Median age
52
was 52 in 2016
0 · 0%
Dig deeper: Forrest population growth · Forrest then and now
Forrest vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Forrest, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-25.7% vs area
- Forrest$290/wk
- Nearby$356.5/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-43.7% vs area
- Forrest$1,091/wk
- Nearby$1,583.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
+33.3% vs area
- Forrest52
- Nearby47.5
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-29.5% vs area
- Forrest$595/wk
- Nearby$872.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Forrest compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Forrest sits around the national middle for socio-economic advantage. It shows high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 51,004.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 6993.3
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 4998.5
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,064.3
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Forrest on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Forrest, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Forrest people
- Population
- 257
- Median age
- 52
- Born overseas
- 11.7%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Forrest income
- Median household income
- $1,091/wk
- Median personal income
- $595/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Forrest housing
- Median rent
- $290/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,509/mo
- Separate houses
- 65.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 0%
- Owned outright
- 33.1%
- Mortgaged
- 20.4%
- Rented
- 9.2%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 35.2%
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
Forrest work
- Employment to population
- 52.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.3%
- Year 12 or above
- 50%
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 3236)
Compare Forrest with nearby suburbs
Forrest in numbers
Forrest had 257 residents at the 2021 Census. The median age is 52, 27% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 11.7% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 33.1% own their home outright, 20.4% are paying a mortgage, 9.2% rent. Separate houses make up 65.5% of dwellings, with 0% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $290/wk, 17% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,091/wk, 39% below the typical VIC suburb. 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 grew 11.7% (from 230 to 257). Median rent moved from $225/wk to $290/wk (+28.9%).
Forrest suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Forrest, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Forrest was $290/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Forrest, VIC?
- Forrest had 257 residents at the 2021 Census, up 11.7% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Forrest?
- Median household income in Forrest was $1,091/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Forrest?
- 9.2% of occupied homes in Forrest were rented, 33.1% were owned outright and 20.4% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Forrest suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Forrest (Vic.). 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 Melbourne