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Blackburn vs Forest Hill

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) comparison ≈ 2.9 km apart · Blackburn profile · Forest Hill profile

Blackburn Forest Hill

Blackburn and Forest Hill are neighbouring areas in Melbourne's east with very different profiles. Blackburn is a larger hub with much more schooling infrastructure, including eight schools compared to just one in Forest Hill. It is also a more affluent area; the typical weekly personal income in Blackburn is $900, which is well higher than the $706 seen in Forest Hill. This higher income is consistent with a larger share of homes earning $3,000 or more a week and a higher proportion of adults with a bachelor degree.

Since 2011, the gap in typical incomes and high earners has widened, though other differences have remained steady. Both areas are far more diverse than the national figure, with a high share of people born overseas and many using a language other than English at home. They are also very similar in their housing styles, with about 72% of homes being detached houses and typical weekly rents sitting around $400.

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Where they differ most

Population: 11,326 larger in Blackburn Other language: 11.2 pts higher in Forest Hill Needs assistance: 2.8 pts higher in Forest Hill Personal income: $194 higher in Blackburn Born overseas: 8.7 pts higher in Forest Hill

Demographics & Identity

Population in Blackburnin Forest Hill +11,326 larger in Blackburn gap widening
22,106 92nd pct 10,780 57th pct
Median age in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2 yrs older in Forest Hill gap widening
40 yrs 52nd pct 42 yrs 64th pct
First Nations in Blackburnin Forest Hill even gap steady
0.3% 3rd pct 0.3% 4th pct
Aged 65+ in Blackburnin Forest Hill +4.4 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
17.5% 51st pct 21.9% 75th pct
Under 15 in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.9 pts higher in Blackburn gap narrowing
17.2% 42nd pct 16.3% 32nd pct
De facto in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.8 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
7.8% 15th pct 6.0% 8th pct

Age structure

26.4% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.1 pts 25.3%
26.0% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +0.6 pts 25.4%
17.5% Seniors (65+) +4.4 pts ▸ 21.9%
17.2% Children (0–14) ◂ +0.9 pts 16.3%
12.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +1.8 pts 11.1%

Marital status

52.0% Married ◂ +0.8 pts 51.2%
33.9% Never married ◂ +2.7 pts 31.2%
6.8% Divorced +1.4 pts ▸ 8.3%
5.3% Widowed +1.6 pts ▸ 6.8%
2.1% Separated +0.6 pts ▸ 2.6%

Age & sex structure

Blackburn Forest Hill

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Born overseas in Blackburnin Forest Hill +8.7 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
33.6% 74th pct 42.4% 86th pct

Country of birth

63.9% Australia ◂ +9.4 pts 54.4%
8.9% China +2.2 pts ▸ 11.2%
3.8% India ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%
2.6% England ◂ +0.6 pts 1.9%
1.1% Vietnam +1.4 pts ▸ 2.4%
1.0% New Zealand even 1.0%
0.5% Italy +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%
0.7% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.9%
0.5% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%
0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

29.2% English ◂ +6.8 pts 22.4%
20.0% Chinese +6.6 pts ▸ 26.6%
26.1% Australian ◂ +4.6 pts 21.5%
10.6% Irish ◂ +3.2 pts 7.4%
9.1% Scottish ◂ +2.2 pts 6.9%
2.8% Greek +1.8 pts ▸ 4.6%
4.6% Italian ◂ +0.3 pts 4.3%
4.5% Indian ◂ +0.2 pts 4.3%
3.3% German even 3.3%
1.5% Vietnamese +0.6 pts ▸ 2.1%
1.7% Dutch ◂ +0.4 pts 1.3%
0.9% Filipino +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Language

Other language in Blackburnin Forest Hill +11.2 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
31.5% 77th pct 42.8% 86th pct
Limited English in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3.3 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
5.2% 83rd pct 8.5% 90th pct

Language used at home

65.8% English only ◂ +12.1 pts 53.7%
11.5% Mandarin +2.6 pts ▸ 14.1%
4.3% Cantonese +2.9 pts ▸ 7.2%
1.8% Greek +1.2 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.0% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 1.8%
1.2% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.9% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 1.2%
1.0% Punjabi ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%
0.2% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%
0.2% Arabic +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Religion

No religion in Blackburnin Forest Hill +5.0 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
44.9% 67th pct 39.9% 43rd pct

Religious affiliation

44.9% No religion ◂ +5.0 pts 39.9%
41.1% Christianity +0.3 pts ▸ 41.5%
3.6% Buddhism +3.3 pts ▸ 6.9%
4.4% Not stated +0.7 pts ▸ 5.1%
3.4% Hinduism ◂ +0.2 pts 3.2%
1.1% Islam +1.1 pts ▸ 2.2%
1.4% Other religions ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%
0.1% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Education & Qualifications

Year 12 in Blackburnin Forest Hill +6.8 pts higher in Blackburn gap steady
76.0% 86th pct 69.3% 75th pct
Bachelor+ in Blackburnin Forest Hill +7.3 pts higher in Blackburn gap steady
44.5% 87th pct 37.2% 79th pct
Schools in Blackburnin Forest Hill +7 more in Blackburn
8 87th pct 1 0th pct
Schools/1k kids in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.53 more in Blackburn
2.10 51st pct 0.57 2nd pct
Schools ≤3 km in Blackburnin Forest Hill +7 more in Blackburn
51 88th pct 44 86th pct
Students in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3,737 more in Blackburn
3,858 86th pct 121 4th pct
Avg size in Blackburnin Forest Hill +361 larger in Blackburn
482 58th pct 121 11th pct
ICSEA in Blackburnin Forest Hill +34 higher in Blackburn
1,129 91st pct 1,095 81st pct

Highest year of school

76.0% Year 12 ◂ +6.8 pts 69.3%
6.0% Year 9 or below +4.0 pts ▸ 10.1%
6.6% Year 10 +1.9 pts ▸ 8.5%
7.7% Year 11 ◂ +0.1 pts 7.6%

Highest qualification level

39.5% Bachelor degree ◂ +2.9 pts 36.6%
17.7% Postgraduate degree ◂ +1.5 pts 16.2%
14.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.8 pts ▸ 15.9%
12.0% Certificate III / IV +1.9 pts ▸ 13.9%
6.4% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +1.8 pts 4.6%
0.9% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Field of qualification

24.5% Management & commerce +0.3 pts ▸ 24.8%
11.6% Engineering & related +0.9 pts ▸ 12.5%
11.9% Society & culture ◂ +1.0 pts 10.9%
11.3% Health ◂ +1.6 pts 9.7%
8.3% Education ◂ +0.6 pts 7.7%
6.5% Information technology +0.7 pts ▸ 7.2%
4.8% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +0.3 pts 4.5%
4.7% Creative arts ◂ +0.6 pts 4.0%
4.0% Architecture & building even 4.0%
2.9% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.5 pts ▸ 3.4%
1.1% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.2 pts 0.9%

Income

Personal income in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$194 higher in Blackburn gap widening
$900 67th pct $706 30th pct
Household income in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$392 higher in Blackburn gap widening
$2,050 69th pct $1,658 45th pct
Family income in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$437 higher in Blackburn gap widening
$2,557 77th pct $2,120 52nd pct
High earners in Blackburnin Forest Hill +5.8 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
18.2% 79th pct 12.4% 59th pct
High-income homes in Blackburnin Forest Hill +8.0 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
31.0% 77th pct 22.9% 57th pct

Household income distribution

27.2% $1,500–$2,999 +0.3 pts ▸ 27.5%
22.8% $650–$1,499 +1.5 pts ▸ 24.2%
13.6% Under $650 +6.0 pts ▸ 19.7%
19.2% $4,000 or more ◂ +6.8 pts 12.3%
11.8% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +1.2 pts 10.6%

Personal income distribution

38.6% Under $650 +6.8 pts ▸ 45.3%
28.1% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.1 pts 27.1%
21.1% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.0 pts 18.1%
8.1% $3,000 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 4.2%

Health & Disability

Health condition in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.8 pts higher in Forest Hill
26.5% 39th pct 28.3% 51st pct
Mental health in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.8 pts higher in Forest Hill
7.8% 37th pct 8.6% 47th pct
Needs assistance in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2.8 pts higher in Forest Hill gap widening
5.0% 42nd pct 7.8% 84th pct

Long-term health conditions reported

8.6% Other condition +0.8 pts ▸ 9.4%
7.3% Arthritis +1.6 pts ▸ 8.9%
7.8% Mental health +0.8 pts ▸ 8.6%
7.8% Asthma ◂ +0.1 pts 7.8%
4.0% Diabetes +1.3 pts ▸ 5.3%
3.7% Heart disease +0.7 pts ▸ 4.4%
2.8% Cancer +0.2 pts ▸ 3.0%
1.0% Lung condition +0.4 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.5% Dementia +0.9 pts ▸ 1.4%
0.8% Stroke +0.4 pts ▸ 1.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

68.8% None ◂ +2.2 pts 66.6%
19.4% One condition ◂ +0.9 pts 18.5%
5.0% Two conditions +1.5 pts ▸ 6.5%
2.1% Three or more +1.2 pts ▸ 3.3%

Community Participation

Volunteering in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3.8 pts higher in Blackburn gap steady
18.0% 74th pct 14.3% 48th pct
Unpaid carers in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.0 pts higher in Blackburn gap steady
14.4% 87th pct 13.4% 72nd pct
Unpaid child care in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.6 pts higher in Blackburn gap narrowing
27.7% 61st pct 26.1% 50th pct
Defence service in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.1 pts higher in Blackburn
2.0% 26th pct 1.9% 25th pct
Housework 15h+ in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.6 pts higher in Blackburn gap steady
21.8% 57th pct 21.2% 51st pct

First Nations

First Nations people in Blackburnin Forest Hill +25 larger in Blackburn
58 19th pct 33 10th pct
Median age in Blackburnin Forest Hill +9 yrs older in Blackburn
28 yrs 76th pct 19 yrs 10th pct
Year 12 in Blackburnin Forest Hill +18.5 pts higher in Blackburn
58.5% 80th pct 40.0% 42nd pct
Unemployment in Blackburnin Forest Hill
10.7% 54th pct —
Median income in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$262 higher in Blackburn
$687 60th pct $425 8th pct
Household income in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$499 higher in Forest Hill
$1,625 46th pct $2,124 74th pct
Indigenous language in Blackburnin Forest Hill +9.6 pts higher in Forest Hill
8.6% 73rd pct 18.2% 90th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.1 larger in Blackburn gap narrowing
2.6 57th pct 2.5 43rd pct
One-parent in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3.0 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
10.5% 25th pct 13.4% 53rd pct
Living alone in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2.3 pts higher in Forest Hill gap narrowing
25.2% 50th pct 27.5% 60th pct

Family composition

64.9% Couples with children ◂ +3.4 pts 61.5%
23.6% Couples without children even 23.6%
10.5% One-parent families +3.0 pts ▸ 13.4%
1.0% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

30.7% 2 people ◂ +0.6 pts 30.1%
25.2% 1 person +2.3 pts ▸ 27.5%
19.4% 4 people ◂ +1.3 pts 18.1%
16.1% 3 people +0.6 pts ▸ 16.7%
6.4% 5 people ◂ +1.2 pts 5.2%
2.2% 6 or more +0.1 pts ▸ 2.3%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$24 higher in Blackburn gap steady
$420 71st pct $396 60th pct
Mortgage in Blackburnin Forest Hill +$177 higher in Blackburn gap narrowing
$2,300 80th pct $2,123 71st pct
People / bedroom in Blackburnin Forest Hill even gap steady
0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct
Renting in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.3 pts higher in Forest Hill gap narrowing
24.4% 42nd pct 25.7% 46th pct
Owned outright in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.9 pts higher in Blackburn gap narrowing
39.0% 71st pct 38.1% 69th pct
Separate houses in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.4 pts higher in Forest Hill gap narrowing
71.6% 29th pct 72.0% 29th pct
3+ bedrooms in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2.0 pts higher in Forest Hill gap narrowing
76.3% 41st pct 78.3% 47th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.0% Owned outright ◂ +0.9 pts 38.1%
34.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.8 pts 32.7%
24.4% Rented +1.3 pts ▸ 25.7%
1.2% Other tenure +1.0 pts ▸ 2.2%
0.9% Not stated +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

Types of homes

71.6% Separate house +0.4 pts ▸ 72.0%
19.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +5.4 pts ▸ 24.9%
8.9% Flat or apartment ◂ +5.8 pts 3.1%
0.0% Other dwelling even 0.0%

Bedrooms per home

43.4% 3 bedrooms +3.9 pts ▸ 47.3%
25.9% 4 bedrooms ◂ +0.6 pts 25.3%
17.9% 2 bedrooms ◂ +1.7 pts 16.1%
7.0% 5 or more ◂ +1.4 pts 5.6%
4.9% 1 bedroom ◂ +0.8 pts 4.1%
0.2% Studio / none ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Weekly rent distribution

61.3% $350–$549 ◂ +5.2 pts 56.1%
4.0% Under $200 +12.3 pts ▸ 16.3%
14.7% $550–$749 ◂ +6.7 pts 8.0%
14.3% $200–$349 ◂ +2.4 pts 11.8%
2.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.3 pts 2.1%

Monthly mortgage distribution

34.4% $3,000 or more ◂ +8.4 pts 26.0%
26.0% $1,800–$2,999 +4.6 pts ▸ 30.6%
18.5% $1,000–$1,799 +2.1 pts ▸ 20.6%
15.1% Under $1,000 +1.5 pts ▸ 16.6%

Transport & Vehicles

No car in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.4 pts higher in Forest Hill gap narrowing
6.0% 59th pct 7.4% 70th pct
Work from home in Blackburnin Forest Hill +5.7 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
38.4% 90th pct 32.7% 85th pct
PT commute in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1.3 pts higher in Blackburn gap narrowing
3.9% 75th pct 2.7% 61st pct
PT stops in Blackburnin Forest Hill +74 more in Blackburn
126 89th pct 52 60th pct
Stops/1k in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.88 more in Blackburn
5.70 70th pct 4.82 58th pct
Departures/1k in Blackburnin Forest Hill +255.6 more in Blackburn
2,016.1 84th pct 1,760.5 79th pct
PT routes in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3 more in Blackburn
20 86th pct 17 82nd pct
Stop walk in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2 longer in Blackburn
4 43rd pct 2 14th pct
Drive to city in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2 longer in Forest Hill
20 40th pct 22 45th pct
Reach 30 min in Blackburnin Forest Hill +11,326 more in Blackburn
34,519 79th pct 23,193 69th pct
Reach 45 min in Blackburnin Forest Hill +107,746 more in Blackburn
237,631 87th pct 129,885 76th pct
Transit to city in Blackburnin Forest Hill +12 longer in Forest Hill
47 29th pct 59 51st pct

How people get to work

37.6% Car (driver) +7.2 pts ▸ 44.8%
38.4% Worked at home ◂ +5.7 pts 32.7%
3.0% Car (passenger) +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%
2.9% Train ◂ +1.2 pts 1.8%
1.4% Walked even 1.4%
0.9% Bus ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%
0.5% Bicycle ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

41.0% 1 vehicle ◂ +0.4 pts 40.6%
39.0% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.1 pts 37.9%
9.0% 3 vehicles +0.9 pts ▸ 9.9%
6.0% No vehicle +1.4 pts ▸ 7.4%
5.0% 4 or more ◂ +0.8 pts 4.2%

Migration & Movement

Recent movers in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3.1 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
35.9% 41st pct 32.8% 28th pct
Recent arrivals in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3.0 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
14.8% 68th pct 11.9% 56th pct

Jobs & Industry

Unemployment in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.7 pts higher in Forest Hill gap steady
4.7% 53rd pct 5.4% 66th pct
Participation in Blackburnin Forest Hill +7.0 pts higher in Blackburn gap widening
64.8% 65th pct 57.7% 34th pct
Full-time in Blackburnin Forest Hill even gap narrowing
58.5% 48th pct 58.4% 47th pct

Industries people work in

14.9% Health care & social assistance ◂ +1.1 pts 13.8%
13.4% Professional & technical ◂ +2.4 pts 11.1%
8.8% Retail trade +2.1 pts ▸ 10.9%
10.4% Education & training ◂ +0.5 pts 9.9%
6.7% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.9 pts 5.8%
4.7% Manufacturing +1.9 pts ▸ 6.6%
6.6% Construction ◂ +0.3 pts 6.3%
5.9% Accommodation & food even 5.9%
5.5% Public administration & safety ◂ +0.9 pts 4.6%
2.9% Transport & warehousing +0.6 pts ▸ 3.5%
2.9% Administrative & support +0.5 pts ▸ 3.5%
3.4% Other services ◂ +0.1 pts 3.3%

Occupations people work in

35.3% Professionals ◂ +4.3 pts 31.0%
15.4% Managers ◂ +2.2 pts 13.2%
13.4% Clerical & administrative +0.7 pts ▸ 14.1%
8.8% Community & personal service +1.2 pts ▸ 10.0%
8.8% Technicians & trades +1.1 pts ▸ 9.9%
8.2% Sales workers +1.5 pts ▸ 9.7%
5.6% Labourers +1.2 pts ▸ 6.8%
2.9% Machinery operators & drivers +0.8 pts ▸ 3.7%

Economy & Advantage

IRSAD decile in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2 higher in Blackburn
9 86th pct 7 64th pct
IRSD decile in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3 higher in Blackburn
9 86th pct 6 57th pct
IER decile in Blackburnin Forest Hill +3 higher in Blackburn
8 71st pct 5 43rd pct
IEO decile in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1 higher in Blackburn
9 86th pct 8 71st pct
IRSAD score in Blackburnin Forest Hill +51 higher in Blackburn
1,087 83rd pct 1,036 66th pct
ERP in Blackburnin Forest Hill +12,476 higher in Blackburn
23,732 89th pct 11,256 54th pct
Growth in Blackburnin Forest Hill +2.6 pts higher in Blackburn
6.2% 63rd pct 3.6% 41st pct
Businesses in Blackburnin Forest Hill +1,680 higher in Blackburn
2,590 86th pct 910 50th pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Blackburnin Forest Hill +23 higher in Forest Hill
781 43rd pct 804 45th pct
Max temp in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.3 higher in Blackburn
20.2 17th pct 20.0 14th pct
Min temp in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.1 higher in Forest Hill
10.4 28th pct 10.5 28th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.3 higher in Blackburn
8.3 89th pct 7.9 86th pct
Types ≤15 min in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.0 more in Blackburn
7.8 91st pct 7.7 90th pct
15-min city in Blackburnin Forest Hill even
100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to shops in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.5 pts higher in Forest Hill
99.5% 96th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to transit in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.9 pts higher in Blackburn
100.0% 100th pct 99.1% 71st pct
Walk to school in Blackburnin Forest Hill even
100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to a park in Blackburnin Forest Hill even
100.0% 100th pct 100.0% 100th pct
Walk to health in Blackburnin Forest Hill +16.0 pts higher in Forest Hill
82.8% 78th pct 98.8% 98th pct
Amenities/1k in Blackburnin Forest Hill +4.9 more in Blackburn
17.3 64th pct 12.3 39th pct
Intersections/km² in Blackburnin Forest Hill +20 higher in Blackburn
293 82nd pct 273 80th pct
Mean slope in Blackburnin Forest Hill +0.2 pts higher in Forest Hill
4.3% 31st pct 4.5% 34th pct

Compare Blackburn with nearby areas

Nunawading Blackburn South Doncaster East - South Forest Hill Box Hill Box Hill North Burwood East Doncaster

Compare Forest Hill with nearby areas

Nunawading Vermont South Blackburn South Burwood East Vermont Blackburn Mitcham Glen Waverley - East

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Blackburn vs Forest Hill [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa2/207031161/blackburn/vs/211041269/forest-hill