Living in Forrest Hill: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 3,438 live property titles in Forrest Hill, Auckland are mostly freehold (64%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 1,160 (33.7%), well above the national share of 8.7%.
Forrest Hill cross-lease titles
- Cross-lease titles
- 1,160
- Share of live titles
- 33.7%
- Live titles in total
- 3,438
- Auckland share
- 14.4%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Auckland
- 17 of 160
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- 19 of 644
Forrest Hill at a glance
Where Forrest Hill differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: cross-lease share of titles (higher than 96% of NZ suburbs); median weekly rent, new tenancies (higher than 91% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Forrest Hill is listed under Auckland.
- 3,438 live titles are recorded here, including 1,160 cross-lease titles (33.7%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 33.7% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 1.5% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Public-transport figures describe how recorded titles sit near mapped stops. They do not describe a service from a particular property.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- The core title, Census, rent, transport and coast measures used by this page are available.
Title mix in Forrest Hill
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 2,197 | 63.9% |
| Cross lease | 1,160 | 33.7% |
| Unit title | 50 | 1.5% |
| Leasehold | 6 | 0.2% |
| Other record types | 25 | 0.7% |
| Total | 3,438 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Forrest Hill compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Forrest Hill is about 3.9 times the national share (8.7%).
Across Auckland as a whole, the share is 14.4%; Forrest Hill is about 2.3 times the overall Auckland share (14.4%).
Its cross-lease share is in the highest quarter of 160 in Auckland (among suburbs with an indexed page on this site).
How cross-leases in Forrest Hill are set up
Fewer schemes have four or more flats on one section (2%, against 11% nationally), up to 8.
More schemes refer to more than one flats plan (54%, against 36% nationally), usually because a plan was redrawn.
Fewer leases include a garage (20% of schemes, against 28% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Forrest Hill | Auckland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 547 | 39,589 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 89.0% | 73.7% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 8.8% | 14.0% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 2.2% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 898 m² | 961 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 435 m² | 418 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 20.1% | 23.0% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 11.5% | 19.2% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 5.9% | 5.5% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 54.1% | 42.1% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1991 | 1989 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 432 | 26,275 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Forrest Hill
Unit titles are 1% of Forrest Hill's titles, well below Auckland (15%) and well below New Zealand (8%). They belong to 17 developments, each run by a body corporate; half have 2 units or fewer.
The unit-title share is in the lowest quarter of 160 in Auckland.
New titles in Forrest Hill since 2020
512 of Forrest Hill's current titles (15%) were first issued since 2020, close to Auckland's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (16%) and above New Zealand (12%).
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 482 | 314 |
| Unit title | 7 | 7 |
| Cross-lease | 18 | 8 |
| Leasehold | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 5 | 1 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Forrest Hill
The typical building in Forrest Hill stands on ground sloping 5.9° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated).
Little of the sloping land faces north: 10%, where about a quarter would if slopes faced every way equally.
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Forrest Hill
0% of Forrest Hill's titles are within 200 m of the sea or harbour edge, 0% within 500 m and 2% within 1 km. The typical title is 1.6 km away.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Forrest Hill: 2023 Census
Forrest Hill's titles fall in 3 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 3 shown below hold 100% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
Fewer people live alone in Forrest Hill West than across Auckland: 12.1% against 18.5%.
More workers commute by bus, train or ferry in Forrest Hill West than across Auckland: 11.6% against 7.8%.
More residents were born overseas in Forrest Hill West than across Auckland: 58.1% against 42.9%.
| Measure | Forrest Hill West 39% of titles | Forrest Hill East 36% of titles | Forrest Hill North 26% of titles | Auckland whole council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 4,053 | 3,528 | 2,472 | 1,656,486 |
| Change since 2018 | +1.0% | +0.3% | −0.7% | +5.4% |
| Change since 2013 | +7.2% | +4.8% | +6.3% | +17.0% |
| Median age | 37 | 36.9 | 36.3 | 35.9 |
| Households | 1,215 | 1,182 | 756 | 539,490 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 61.7% | 59.1% | 60.7% | 59.5% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 38.5% | 40.4% | 39.7% | 40.5% |
| Median household income | $120,300 | $133,200 | $119,600 | $116,800 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $650 | $623 | $650 | $540 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 11.0% | 5.7% | 5.1% | 8.8% |
| Ages | ||||
| Under 15 | 17.4% | 17.8% | 19.7% | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 | 21.8% | 22.3% | 20.0% | 20.9% |
| 30 to 64 | 46.3% | 48.9% | 48.4% | 46.5% |
| 65 and over | 14.6% | 11.1% | 11.9% | 13.3% |
| Where people came from | ||||
| Born overseas | 58.1% | 51.2% | 56.5% | 42.9% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 20.5% | 19.2% | 21.7% | 19.6% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 45.9% | 43.3% | 42.5% | 45.0% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 7.1% | 6.3% | 6.7% | 5.6% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 22.2% | 22.4% | 23.5% | 21.1% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | ||||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 39.3% | 42.9% | 41.7% | 32.9% |
| Employed full-time | 52.6% | 55.6% | 54.4% | 53.2% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 3.2% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 50.1% | 51.9% | 50.2% | 47.5% |
| Median personal income | $40,700 | $49,500 | $42,800 | $44,700 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | ||||
| Work from home | 18.0% | 22.1% | 18.1% | 18.2% |
| Car, truck or van | 66.3% | 64.9% | 67.0% | 68.6% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 11.6% | 10.3% | 13.0% | 7.8% |
| Walk or cycle | 2.8% | 2.4% | 0.9% | 4.2% |
| Households and families | ||||
| One-person households | 12.1% | 15.4% | 11.3% | 18.5% |
| Average people per household | 3.2 | 3 | 3.2 | 3 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 4.9% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 6.8% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 6.3% | 4.4% | 5.2% | 8.8% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 52.4% | 53.1% | 54.9% | 47.2% |
| Couples without children | 34.0% | 32.6% | 31.3% | 35.5% |
| One-parent families | 13.6% | 14.3% | 13.8% | 17.3% |
| Homes | ||||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 82.5% | 78.2% | 89.3% | 71.5% |
| Average bedrooms | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 69.7% | 70.6% | 65.6% | 66.3% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 21.9% | 21.9% | 24.3% | 20.1% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 18.1% | 20.9% | 21.3% | 17.4% |
Rents around Forrest Hill
New tenancies in Forrest Hill West in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $763 a week (down 4.6% on a year earlier). That is slightly above the typical suburb in Auckland ($675), and above the national median ($600); in the highest quarter of 129 in Auckland.
| April–June 2026 | Forrest Hill West 39% of titles | Forrest Hill East 36% of titles | Forrest Hill North 26% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $763 | $760 | $850 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $689–$858 | $685–$850 | $715–$940 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | −4.6% | +8.9% | +14.1% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 24 | 27 | 27 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Forrest Hill
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Forrest Hill, among them Forrest Hill School (Contributing) and Wairau Intermediate (Intermediate).
- Forrest Hill School (Contributing)
- Wairau Intermediate (Intermediate)
- Westlake Boys High School (Secondary (Year 9-15))
- Nearest school: Wairau Intermediate (0.8 km)
- Nearest secondary school: Westlake Boys High School (1.2 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: North Shore Hospital (2.0 km)
School enrolment zones in Forrest Hill: a guide
Two secondary schools have a home zone covering most of Forrest Hill's titles: Westlake Boys' High School and Westlake Girls' High School.
- Forrest Hill School (primary, Years 1–6): about 70% of titles
- Campbells Bay School (primary, Years 1–6): about 50% of titles
- Sunnynook School (primary, Years 1–6): about 40% of titles
- Wairau Intermediate School (intermediate, Years 7–8): about 85% of titles
- Takapuna Normal Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): about 45% of titles
- Murrays Bay Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): about 5% of titles
- Westlake Boys' High School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Westlake Girls' High School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Public transport in Forrest Hill
96% of Forrest Hill's titles are within 400 m of a stop with a scheduled weekday service, slightly above Auckland as a whole (82%).
35% are that close to a frequent stop (60 or more departures that day), well below the council (54%); in the lowest quarter of 160 in Auckland.
The typical title is 195 m in a straight line from its nearest stop.
Timetable of Wednesday 30 September 2026, Auckland Transport. Sources and limits
Places of worship near Forrest Hill
OpenStreetMap maps 2 places of worship inside Forrest Hill (2 Christian).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: Forrest Hill Presbyterian Church, under 1 km away
- Hindu: Shree Sanatan Dharam Hanuman Mandir, 5.1 km away
- Buddhist: Wat Phra Dhammakaya Auckland, 1.4 km away
- Muslim: North Shore Islamic Centre, 1.0 km away
- Sikh: Gurdwara Sahib North Shore, 2.2 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Auckland with many cross-leases
- Papatoetoe: 3,998 cross-lease titles (25.8%)
- Remuera: 3,046 cross-lease titles (26.7%)
- Mount Roskill: 2,891 cross-lease titles (28.3%)
- Mount Wellington: 2,700 cross-lease titles (24.1%)
- Glenfield: 2,347 cross-lease titles (36.6%)
- Epsom: 2,335 cross-lease titles (29.8%)
- New Lynn: 2,016 cross-lease titles (24.4%)
- Mount Eden: 2,005 cross-lease titles (20.7%)
Suburbs like Forrest Hill
The closest match on the measures on this site is Hillcrest, Auckland in Auckland, nearest on distance to the coast, heat pumps, distance to a hospital. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillcrest, Auckland | Auckland | 28.8% | $700 | 36.3 | distance to the coast, heat pumps, distance to a hospital |
| Sunnynook | Auckland | 27.8% | $760 | 34.8 | population change, recent movers within NZ, rent |
| Belmont, Auckland | Auckland | 37.2% | No data | 38 | older residents, schools, damp homes |
| Blockhouse Bay | Auckland | 17.4% | No data | 38.2 | near a stop, distance to the coast, population change |
| Botany Downs | Auckland | 28.8% | No data | 39.8 | distance to the coast, population change, elevation |
Questions
What is the rent in Forrest Hill?
New tenancies in Forrest Hill West (the rent area for part of Forrest Hill) had a median rent of $763 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $689 to $858.
What schools are in Forrest Hill?
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Forrest Hill: Forrest Hill School, Wairau Intermediate and Westlake Boys High School. The nearest secondary school to its centre is Westlake Boys High School (1.2 km in a straight line). Secondary-school home zones covering most of its titles are Westlake Boys' High School and Westlake Girls' High School; check the school's own zone map for any address.