Overall score
Forest Lake
51.8/100
Heathwood
43.4/100
Forest Lake vs Heathwood, QLD Suburb Comparison
Forest Lake for retirees and investment; Heathwood for families and schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Forest LakeHeathwood
Crime rate
Forest Lake
46.4 / 1k
Heathwood
96.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Forest Lake
260
Heathwood
60
Population
Forest Lake
22,676
Heathwood
4,944
Metric leadForest Lake 9Heathwood 21 tiedacross 12 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesForest Lake
- Best for familiesHeathwood
- Best for investmentForest Lake
- Best for best valueForest Lake
- Best for best schoolsHeathwood
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 Lake | Heathwood |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 51.8/100 | 43.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 53.5/100 | 39.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 46.4 / 1k | 96.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 4 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 42.8/100 | 42.8/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 14 | 3 |
| Public transport stops | 43 | 14 |
| Walkability | 92.0/100 | 29.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 260 | 60 |
| Green cover | 2.3% | 18.1% |
| Population | 22,676 | 4,944 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 6/10 | 9/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Forest Lake is a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by, and Heathwood is an energetic metro mid-sized suburb where cafés and local life overlap.
On the data, Forest Lake is stronger for a quieter safety profile, schools and education options, and parks and reserves; Heathwood answers with stronger socioeconomic advantage.
Families, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools may find Forest Lake the better fit, while retirees are more likely to prefer Heathwood.
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.