Urban Centre · Area profile
Forest Hill
1 km²
A surprisingly young population defines Forest Hill, where the typical resident is just 30 years old. This is far younger than the national figure and marks a significant shift from a decade ago. The community is small and largely residential, with a population of 418 people. It is a place where many people now rent and a high number of single parents are raising children, contributing to a distinct social character within the Lockyer Valley.
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The area is far younger than the Queensland and national averages, with 17% of people being children under 15. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population has risen to 5.5% since 2011, which is higher than most similar areas.
Most residents were born in Australia, though those born overseas make up 11.7% of the community. This is far below the national figure, but the number of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
English is the primary language for 86.4% of the community. Only 3.6% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national average, and no one reported speaking little or no English.
A large number of residents report no religion, at 44.3%, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 23 points since 2011.
While 50.9% of residents completed Year 12—a figure that rose 19 points since 2011—the proportion of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is far below the state and national averages at 8.7%.
Incomes are much lower than usual, with the typical family earning $1,208 a week, far below the national figure of $2,120. Very few people earn $2,000 or more per week, and only 3% of households earn $3,000 or more.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 38.3% of people. This includes a high rate of mental health conditions at 15.1%, well above the national average.
Community participation is lower than in most areas, with only 14.9% of people volunteering. Those doing unpaid housework or caring for children are also less common than in the typical Queensland community.
One-parent families make up 34.8% of the community, which is far above the national average. This high number of single-parent homes is a striking feature of the local household makeup.
Renters make up 43.5% of households, far above the national figure. While 94.6% of homes are separate houses and most have three or more bedrooms, the typical weekly rent of $288 is well below the state average.
The community relies almost entirely on cars, with 66.7% of workers driving to work. No one uses public transport for their commute, and only 1.9% of homes do not have a motor vehicle.
The area is seeing significant movement, with 53.8% of people having moved in the last five years, which is far above the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas have also risen to 10.2% since 2016.
The unemployment rate is 11.9%, which is well above the national figure. Full-time employment is far lower than average at 41.5%, with many people working as labourers or in agriculture and retail.
Most homes are within a short walk of schools and parks, though none are within 15 minutes of groceries or health services. This gives the area a walkability score of 4.6, making it somewhat walkable.