Forestville
NSW 2087 · Northern Beaches
8,659 (2021) → 8,904 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Northern Beaches local government area (est. 271,738 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Forestville is a stable suburb in Northern Beaches, NSW 2087, about 13km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $2.53M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 6 schools, a transport score of 60/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Forestville has an overall score of 81/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 100/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (5.32%), China (2.97%), New Zealand (2.01%), Hong Kong (1.51%), South Africa (1.46%)
Top languages: Cantonese (3.22%), Mandarin (2.76%), French (2.23%), Japan (1.62%), Spanish (1.03%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q4 2025
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated 2025
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1136 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1141
- Forestville Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1119
- Forestville Montessori SchoolPrimary · IndependentICSEA 1118
- Aspect Vern Barnett SchoolCombined · IndependentICSEA 1102
- Aspect Vern Barnett School, ForestvillePrimary · Independent
- High School Campus for Yanginanook SchoolSecondary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Killarney Heights High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1126
- Frenchs Forest Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1123
- Killarney Heights Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1161
- Davidson High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1083
- Mimosa Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1110
- The Forest High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.1kmICSEA 1055
- Wakehurst Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1117
- St Martin's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.4kmICSEA 1124
- Lindfield East Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1178
- Castle Cove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.7kmICSEA 1169
- Kambora Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.7kmICSEA 1122
- Arranounbai SchoolCombined · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1079
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Some cultural venues
Around the national average — a handful of cultural venues, with more on offer a short trip away.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Not much nightlife
Very few licensed venues nearby — you'll be heading to a neighbouring suburb for a night out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Northern Beaches
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Frequently asked questions about Forestville
Is Forestville safe?
Forestville has a residential safety score of 100/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,582 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Forestville?
In Forestville, the median house price is $2.53M and the median unit price is $1.31M. Median weekly house rent is $1,250.
How far is Forestville from Sydney CBD?
Forestville is about 12.6 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 50 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Forestville?
Forestville has 6 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1120 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Forestville?
Forestville has a transport score of 60/100 and 38 bus stops.