Moving to Forestville NSW 2087
What the official numbers say about living in Forestville — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $650 a week, against a median household income of $2,507 a week.
About 77% of homes are owner-occupied and 20% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Forestville grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,835 → 8,659 people).
Around 78% of households are families, averaging 2.9 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, China, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Cantonese, Mandarin, French.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Forestville sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (40% of workers), while 56% work from home.
Nearest train station: Roseville, 4.2 km south-west.
Nearest metro station: Chatswood, 5.1 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Chatswood Transport Interchange, 5 km south-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Manly Wharf, 8 km south-east.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 13.1 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 12 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 45 schools · 48 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 76 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Forestville profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Forestville Public School 150 m · Forestville Montessori School 600 m · Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School 800 m · Aspect Vern Barnett School 800 m · Killarney Heights High School 1.3 km · Frenchs Forest Public School 1.5 km · Killarney Heights Public School 1.7 km · Davidson High School 1.8 km
Groceries: Coles 400 m · Woolworths 1.5 km · ALDI 1.5 km · Woolworths 2.3 km · Am Mart 2.4 km · ALDI 2.4 km · IGA 2.5 km
Parks and reserves: Casuarina Reserve 300 m · Epacris Reserve No. 2 350 m · Epacris Reserve 450 m · Poppy Park Forestville 500 m · Gwarra Reserve 500 m · Brown Street Reserve 500 m · Lindsay Reserve 600 m · Ryrie Reserve 750 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Forestville, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Pied Currawong.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Forestville, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forestville here | 8,659 | — | 10/10 | 38% |
| Killarney Heights | 4,502 | — | 10/10 | 57% |
| Frenchs Forest | 14,267 | — | 10/10 | 31% |
| Roseville Chase | 1,618 | — | 10/10 | 43% |
| Castle Cove | 2,643 | — | 10/10 | 50% |
| East Lindfield | 3,710 | — | 10/10 | 39% |
| Davidson | 2,725 | — | 10/10 | 62% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Northern Beaches — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Mackellar — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2087 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Forestville profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $650 a week, and about 20% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,835 people to 8,659. It sits about 12 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Roseville station is roughly 4.2 km away. Local government is Northern Beaches council, and the federal seat is Mackellar.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Forestville vs Killarney Heights · Forestville vs Frenchs Forest.
Nearby guides: Killarney Heights · Frenchs Forest · Roseville Chase · Castle Cove · East Lindfield · Davidson.
Keep an eye on Forestville
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