Forrest vs Deakin.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $5,000,000 and $1,800,000. Deakin edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Deakin (median $1,800,000) is roughly 178% cheaper to buy into than Forrest ($5,000,000).
Forrest scores higher on walkability (60/100 vs 22/100 ), 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).
For buyers
Deakin is the lower entry point at $1,800,000 median, 178% 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 questions
Is Forrest or Deakin cheaper to buy in?
Deakin has the lower median house price at $1,800,000, roughly 178% below Forrest ($5,000,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Forrest or Deakin 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, Forrest or Deakin?
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, Forrest or Deakin?
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
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Forrest against another suburb