Side by sideSuburb comparison

Deakin vs Forrest.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,800,000 and $5,000,000. Deakin edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Deakin (median $1,800,000) is roughly 64% cheaper to buy into than Forrest ($5,000,000).

Forrest scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 60/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Deakin (1118) sits above Forrest (1114).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Deakin is the lower entry point at $1,800,000 median, 64% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Deakin offers the higher gross rental yield (1.56% vs 0.50%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Deakin edges out on average school ICSEA (1118 vs 1114).

Common questionsDeakin vs Forrest

Common questions

Is Deakin or Forrest cheaper to buy in?

Deakin has the lower median house price at $1,800,000, roughly 64% below Forrest ($5,000,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Deakin or Forrest have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Deakin scores 1118 vs 1114 in Forrest. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.

Which is more walkable, Deakin or Forrest?

Forrest scores 60/100 on walkability vs 22/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, Deakin or Forrest?

Gross rental yield on houses is 1.56% in Deakin vs 0.50% in Forrest. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.

The numbers behind the take

Deakin
Metric
Forrest

Price & Market

$1,800,000
Median house
$5,000,000
$1,069,000
Median unit
$849,000
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$540/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$481/wk
$560/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$570/wk
73.0%
Owner occupied
67.0%
21.0%
Renter occupied
31.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

22
Walk score
60
100
Transit score
30
100
Bike score
100
3,124
Population
1,827
45
Median age
47

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1118
Avg ICSEA
1114

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).