Overall score
Forest Grove
41.3/100
Margaret River
42.7/100
Forest Grove vs Margaret River, WA Suburb Comparison
Margaret River for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Forest GroveMargaret River
Crime rate
Forest Grove
51.2 / 1k
Margaret River
51.2 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Forest Grove
3
Margaret River
19
Population
Forest Grove
253
Margaret River
8,918
Metric leadForest Grove 2Margaret River 62 tiedacross 10 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesMargaret River
- Best for familiesMargaret River
- Best for best valueMargaret River
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 | Forest Grove | Margaret River |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 41.3/100 | 42.7/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 45.8/100 | 39.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 51.2 / 1k | 51.2 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 1 | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 63.3/100 | 63.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | — | 3 |
| Public transport stops | — | 1 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 1.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 3 | 19 |
| Green cover | 31.0% | 13.8% |
| Population | 253 | 8,918 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 5/10 | 6/10 |
Comparison summary
Forest Grove is a quieter smaller community with space and a country-town pace, while Margaret River is a regional hub with its own identity and everyday convenience.
Forest Grove pulls ahead on a country-town feel and improving crime trends, whereas Margaret River is the better pick for housing affordability, schools and education options, and walkability.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Margaret River, while Forest Grove remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
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.