Overall score
Apollo Bay
46.1/100
Forrest
49.3/100
Apollo Bay vs Forrest, VIC Suburb Comparison
Apollo Bay for retirees and beach lifestyle; Forrest for investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Apollo BayForrest
Crime rate
Apollo Bay
69.8 / 1k
Forrest
51.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Apollo Bay
26
Forrest
9
Population
Apollo Bay
1,790
Forrest
257
Metric leadApollo Bay 5Forrest 62 tiedacross 13 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesApollo Bay
- Best for beach lifestyleApollo Bay
- Best for investmentForrest
- Best for best valueApollo Bay
- Best for best schoolsApollo Bay
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Apollo Bay | Forrest |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 46.1/100 | 49.3/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 42.3/100 | 44.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 69.8 / 1k | 51.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 5 | 3 |
| Public transport stops | 8 | 2 |
| Walkability | 12.0/100 | 3.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 26 | 9 |
| Planning activity | 22 | 4 |
| Green cover | 38.1% | 52.3% |
| Population | 1,790 | 257 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 4/10 | 6/10 |
Comparison summary
Apollo Bay is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Forrest is a quieter smaller community with space and a country-town pace. Apollo Bay leans into coastal living, while Forrest feels more inland and suburban in character.
Apollo Bay pulls ahead on housing affordability, parks and reserves, and public transport access, whereas Forrest is the better pick for a quieter safety profile, a calmer planning outlook, and stronger socioeconomic advantage. On housing, Apollo Bay sits in a gently premium band, compared with a well priced feel in Forrest.
Choose Apollo Bay if you are weighing people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools; lean toward Forrest for retirees.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.