NSW · Wagga Wagga Council
Forest Hill, 2651
Current weather
12.7°CClear sky
66% humidity · 18.6 km/h wind · 15° / 8.4° today · 0.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Forest Hill anchors everyday life in Wagga Wagga, a regional mid-sized suburb with its own identity and rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
A younger crowd gives the area energy, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum.
Population
- Population
- 3,081
- Median age
- 25
- Median household income / week
- $1,788
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 56 of 890
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 68.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 82 / 8 / 66
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $515
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 174
- Against the person
- 58
- Against property
- 77
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 56.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 53 residents
- State safety percentile
- 33.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +35.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order14
- Break And Enter Dwelling13
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment20
- Malicious Damage To Property24
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 941
- Forest Hill Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
46 public transport stops in this suburb
- Allonby Av After Banner St
- Elizabeth Av After Brunskill Av
- Fife St Opp Forest Hill Shops
- Mangrove Cres At Melaleuca Dr
- Melaleuca Dr At Boree Av
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksSturt Highway, Fife Street01 Mar 2026 – 01 Nov 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
123 planning-related records
2026· 16 proposals
June 2026
- Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Supporting Development304 BRAEHOUR ROAD FOREST HILL 2651Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 MOONAH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 SMITH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation2 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 FLINTWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
February 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 LYONS CRESCENT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation14 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation9 MOONAH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 COX AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
2025· 24 proposals
November 2025
- Subdivision1 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Rainwater tanks; Manufactured home304 BRAEHOUR ROAD FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRUNSKILL AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation42 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure20 HAZELWOOD DRIVE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
July 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space9 BEECH STREET FOREST HILL 2651Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 PAPERBARK DRIVE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Car park; Community facility3185 STURT HIGHWAY FOREST HILL 2651Rejected
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation36 BLACKWOOD CIRCUIT FOREST HILL 2651Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure44 DUNN AVENUE FOREST HILL 2651Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 SILKWOOD STREET FOREST HILL 2651Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
39 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Liquor Legends Forest HillAlcohol
Unit 2 34 Allonby Avenue, Forest Hill
- ATM
- Bbq
- Allonby Av after Banner StBus stop
- Brunskill Av at Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Cox Av after Sackville DrBus stop
- Cox Av at Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Cox Av at Wattle StBus stop
- Cox Av before Elizabeth AvBus stop
- Elizabeth Av after Brunskill AvBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Clive Brunskill Memorial ParkPark
- RAAF Wagga Gate GuardiansPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 14
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 48.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 32% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2159th in Australia
- State rank
- 682nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #34 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #148 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Allonby Av after Banner Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Australia Postamenitiespost_office
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Brunskill Av at Elizabeth Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Cox Av after Sackville Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Cox Av at Elizabeth Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Cox Av at Wattle Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Cox Av before Elizabeth Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Wagga Wagga Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.