Moving to Forest Lake QLD 4078
What the official numbers say about living in Forest Lake — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $390 a week, against a median household income of $1,921 a week.
About 73% of homes are owner-occupied and 26% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Forest Lake grew 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (22,426 → 22,676 people).
Around 79% of households are families, averaging 2.8 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, Vietnam, England; most spoken languages besides English: Vietnamese, Mandarin, Samoan.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Forest Lake scores a little above the national average (decile 6 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 18% work from home.
Nearest train station: Richlands, 3.2 km north-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Mount Ommaney, 8.4 km north.
Nearest airport: Brisbane Airport, 31 km north-east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 18 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 17 schools · 9 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 79 parks — see them all on the Forest Lake profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Grand Avenue State School 800 m · Saint John's Anglican College 850 m · Forest Lake State School 1000 m · Saint Johns Anglican College 1000 m · Forest Lake State High School 1 km · Serviceton South State School 1.9 km · Richlands East State School 2.5 km · St Mark's Catholic Primary School 3 km
Groceries: Woolworths 650 m · Coles 700 m · Aldi 800 m · Woolworths 2.3 km · Woolworths 2.6 km · ALDI 2.7 km · Woolworths 2.7 km
Parks and reserves: The Lake Parklands 300 m · Cook Street Park 550 m · Boronia Park 550 m · Mauritius Parade Park 550 m · Barrier Place Park 600 m · Settlers Village Park 600 m · Flinders Crescent Park 600 m · Pine Village Park 650 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Forest Lake, most often seen first: Torresian Crow · Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Willie Wagtail · Brown Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Forest Lake, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake here | 22,676 | — | 6/10 | 26% |
| Ellen Grove | 3,586 | — | 1/10 | 39% |
| Doolandella | 7,123 | — | 4/10 | 42% |
| Heathwood | 4,944 | — | 9/10 | 39% |
| Inala | 15,273 | — | 1/10 | 15% |
| Richlands | 5,621 | — | 4/10 | 11% |
| Durack | 7,788 | — | 2/10 | 30% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Brisbane — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Oxley — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4078 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Forest Lake profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $390 a week, and about 26% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 1% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 22,426 people to 22,676. It sits about 18 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Richlands station is roughly 3.2 km away. Local government is Brisbane council, and the federal seat is Oxley.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Forest Lake vs Doolandella · Forest Lake vs Inala.
Nearby guides: Ellen Grove · Doolandella · Heathwood · Inala · Richlands · Durack.
Keep an eye on Forest Lake
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