State Electorate · Area profile
Forrestfield (East Metropolitan)
58 km²
Most homes in Forrestfield are large, detached houses, making it a primary hub for families in the east of Perth. The area has a younger feel than most, with over 20% of the population being children under 15. This family-focused character is reflected in the high number of large households and a strong workforce with a high rate of full-time employment. It is a stable community where many residents have lived for more than five years.
Families are well catered for: 17 schools serve Forrestfield (East Metropolitan).
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The community is relatively young, with a typical resident aged 37 and a high proportion of children under 15 compared to most areas. About 3.1% of people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, which is higher than most similar areas.
Around 30.1% of residents were born overseas, a figure slightly lower than the Western Australian average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while England, New Zealand, and India are the top overseas birthplaces.
English is the main language for 76.1% of people, and while 18.9% use another language at home, this is well below the national figure. However, the proportion of people who speak little or no English is higher than in most similar areas.
About 43.2% of residents have no religion, which is well above the national figure. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 40.9%.
Education levels are lower than in most areas, with only 15.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national average, and only 51.5% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $1,756, which is about the same as the national figure. However, the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week is well below the state and national averages.
About 27.6% of people have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the state average. People needing help with daily activities are fewer here than in most other areas.
A high 30.4% of people provide unpaid childcare, which is much higher than most areas. Conversely, the rate of volunteering is well below the state average.
Households here are larger than usual, with 2.6 people per home. This is consistent with the high number of couples with children, who make up 59.4% of families.
Detached houses are very common here, making up 93.6% of homes, and 91.3% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms. Renting is much less common than in most areas, with only 21.1% of households renting.
Very few homes have no motor vehicle, and only 5.6% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure. Despite this reliance on cars, the area has a high number of public transport stops per 1,000 people.
The population is quite stable, as the 32.4% who moved in the last five years is much lower than in most areas. Recent overseas arrivals are also much less common here than in other parts of the country.
Full-time employment is a strength here, with 62.4% of the workforce in full-time roles, which is well above the national average. The most common industries are health care, construction, and retail.
The area is somewhat walkable, and most residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park, a school, or groceries. Over 90% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.