Forest Grove, Saskatoon: Best for Families and First-Time Buyers Wanting Affordable Northeast Housing

Forest Grove is an established northeast Saskatoon neighbourhood that tends to suit families and first-time buyers looking for a mostly single-family, comparatively accessible housing market near Central Avenue and Attridge Drive.

Forest Grove at a Glance

Forest Grove is an established neighbourhood in northeast Saskatoon, within Ward 1, built out mainly from the 1960s through the 1980s, with further expansion to the north in the 1980s. It may be a strong fit for families and first-time buyers who want an established, mostly single-family setting with a median multiple below the city average. It may be less suitable for buyers who want new construction or a large selection of condo and rental-style housing.

According to the City of Saskatoon’s 24th edition Neighbourhood Profiles, Forest Grove had a 2025 population of 6,012 and a 60.0 percent homeownership rate. The same profile shows a 2021 Census-based dwelling mix of 52 percent single-family dwellings, 18 percent two-unit dwellings, and 30 percent multi-unit housing.

Quick Facts

Category	Forest Grove Details
Area of Saskatoon	Northeast Saskatoon, within Ward 1
Population	6,012, City of Saskatoon 24th edition Neighbourhood Profiles, 2025
Homeownership Rate	60.0 percent owned, 40 percent rented (2021 Census)
Average Household Size	2.6
Main Housing Types	Single-family homes, two-unit housing, low-rise apartment condos, semi-detached homes
Dwelling Mix	52 percent single-family, 18 percent two-unit, 30 percent multi-unit housing (2021 Census)
Neighbourhood Area	160.7 hectares, or 397.1 acres, at 15.3 dwelling units per hectare
Main Parks	Les Kerr Park, Balsam Park, T.J. Quigley Park, Forest Grove Linkage
Park Space	8.8 hectares, or 21.7 acres, according to the City profile
Schools in the Area	École Forest Grove School and St. Volodymyr School
Nearby Amenities	Central Avenue business district, Attridge Drive access, and east-side services
Transit and Road Access	Route 26 Forest Grove/University; access via Central Avenue, Attridge Drive, and Circle Drive
Buyer Fit	Families, first-time buyers, and budget-conscious northeast buyers wanting a mostly single-family setting

The City profile includes time-sensitive real estate sales data showing average sale prices by property type in Forest Grove. These figures should be treated as historical context, not a current pricing guarantee.

Where Is Forest Grove in Saskatoon?

Forest Grove sits in northeast Saskatoon, within Municipal Ward 1. Wikipedia’s sourced boundary description places the original neighbourhood between 115th Street to the south, Forest Drive to the east, Central Avenue to the west, and undeveloped land to the north, with a 1980s expansion extending the boundary north to Attridge Drive and adding residential development along Rossmo Road.

For buyers, the location offers access to Central Avenue’s commercial strip and Attridge Drive, both of which connect to the broader east-side road network. The City’s neighbourhood map places Forest Grove next to Sutherland to the south, with the University of Saskatchewan and College Park area further south along the same corridor.

Forest Grove was annexed by the city between 1955 and 1959, with most home construction happening between 1971 and 1990. That gives the neighbourhood a fairly consistent housing era, distinct from newer subdivisions on the city’s outer edges.

What Is Forest Grove Known For?

Forest Grove is known for being an established, mostly single-family northeast neighbourhood with a below-average median multiple relative to the rest of Saskatoon. The City profile’s 2024 data shows a median multiple of 2.71 for Forest Grove compared with 3.96 for Saskatoon overall, and the City rates a median multiple of 3.0 or under as affordable.

The neighbourhood is also known for its housing era. The City profile’s age-of-dwelling data shows 40 percent of housing built from 1961 to 1980 and another 44 percent from 1981 to 1990, meaning 84 percent of the housing stock falls within that 30-year window.

Forest Grove shares its community association with neighbouring Sutherland. The City of Saskatoon lists the Sutherland/Forest Grove Community Association as the local body serving both neighbourhoods, which points to a shared sense of community programming and identity between the two areas even though they are distinct neighbourhoods in the City’s planning data.

Who Is Forest Grove a Good Fit For?

Forest Grove fits families and first-time buyers who want an established, mostly single-family setting without the highest price points in the city. With a homeownership rate of 60.0 percent and a 52 percent single-family dwelling share, the housing pattern leans toward ownership while still including two-unit housing and multi-unit options for buyers wanting more variety.

Families considering Forest Grove have two elementary school options inside the neighbourhood: École Forest Grove School, a Saskatoon Public Schools facility offering Kindergarten through Grade 8 with English and French Immersion programs, and St. Volodymyr School, a Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools facility. Attendance boundaries, busing, and program availability should always be confirmed directly with the school divisions before buying.

Forest Grove may be a better fit for buyers who are comfortable with an established 1970s-to-1980s-era housing stock and want a mostly single-family setting at a comparatively accessible price point. It may be less suitable for buyers prioritizing new construction or a wide selection of condo and rental-style housing, since the multi-unit dwelling share, while present, is smaller than in some other established Saskatoon neighbourhoods.

Schools And Childcare

École Forest Grove School, at 501 115th Street East, is a Saskatoon Public Schools facility offering Kindergarten through Grade 8 with both English and French Immersion programs. The City’s neighbourhood profile lists 2024 enrolment at Forest Grove School at 438 students, down from 489 in 2023 and 476 in 2022. Saskatoon Public Schools provides two-way transportation for French Immersion students within the catchment area.

St. Volodymyr School, at 302 Kellough Road, is a Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools facility offering before- and after-school care and an English as an Additional Language program. The City’s neighbourhood profile lists 2024 enrolment at St. Volodymyr School at 331 students, up from 279 in both 2022 and 2023.

For high school options, families should confirm current attendance boundaries and transportation directly with Saskatoon Public Schools or Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, since secondary school assignment, boundaries, and busing can change and were not independently confirmed for this guide.

Parks And Outdoor Space

Forest Grove has 8.8 hectares, or 21.7 acres, of total park space according to the City profile. Named parks in the profile include Les Kerr Park, a neighbourhood-type park at 7.0 hectares, the largest in the area, along with Balsam Park and T.J. Quigley Park, both neighbourhood-type parks, and Forest Grove Linkage, classified as a special-use park.

Buyers who want larger-format shopping or additional recreation can look toward the Central Avenue commercial corridor in neighbouring Sutherland, or toward Preston Crossing and other east-side commercial areas, depending on the exact address.

Housing Types And Price Reality

Forest Grove has a dwelling mix weighted toward single-family homes. The City’s 2021 Census-based dwelling count shows 1,279 single-family dwellings, 449 two-unit dwellings, and 724 multi-unit dwellings, for 52 percent single-family, 18 percent two-unit, and 30 percent multi-unit housing, out of 2,452 total dwellings.

The age of housing is concentrated in a fairly narrow window. The City profile’s age-of-dwelling data shows 3 percent of dwellings built before 1960, 40 percent from 1961 to 1980, and 44 percent from 1981 to 1990, with much smaller shares in every decade since, including 7 percent from 1991 to 2000 and 2 percent from 2001 to 2005. For buyers, that means mechanical systems, roofing, and windows are likely approaching or past typical service-life ranges on many properties, so inspections matter. Depending on the property, important review items may include furnace age, electrical panel capacity, sewer line age, roof and window age, attic insulation, and any past renovation work.

The City profile’s 2024 real estate sales data shows 54 single-family dwelling sales at an average price of $401,768, 51 low-rise apartment condo sales at an average price of $159,390, 16 semi-detached sales at an average price of $395,838, 7 semi-detached two-titles sales at an average price of $313,500, and 3 condo townhouse sales with no average price recorded. These figures are historical context from the City profile, not a current pricing guarantee, and buyers should review current comparable sales before making decisions.

Housing affordability data in the same City profile shows a median multiple of 2.71 in 2024 for Forest Grove, compared with 3.96 for Saskatoon overall. The City profile notes that a median multiple of 3.0 or under is rated as affordable, which places Forest Grove below both the city average and that threshold. Average owner’s major payments were reported at $1,332 and average gross rent at $1,250 in the 2021 Census data cited in the profile.

To understand what these numbers mean for your own plan, see the real cost of buying a home in Saskatoon, which covers more than just the sale price.

Buying in Forest Grove

Forest Grove is worth considering if you want an established, mostly single-family neighbourhood with a median multiple below the city average, and you are comfortable with the maintenance considerations that come with a 1970s-to-1980s-era housing stock. The City’s housing data shows a tenure profile weighted toward ownership, with 60.0 percent owned and 40 percent rented in 2021.

Buyers should pay attention to property type and exact location. A single-family home near Les Kerr Park or the schools may carry a different appeal than a property closer to Central Avenue, Attridge Drive, or the rail corridor along the southern edge.

Best Fit for Buyers Who Want:

• An established northeast neighbourhood with a mostly single-family, majority-owned housing pattern
• Two neighbourhood elementary schools to choose from, including a French Immersion option
• A median multiple below both the Saskatoon average and the City’s own affordability threshold
• Reasonable access to Central Avenue and Attridge Drive
• Older homes with renovation potential

May Not Be the Best Fit for Buyers Who Need:

• New construction or a modern building envelope
• A wide selection of condo, townhouse, or rental-style housing
• The highest-density, most rental-weighted housing profile
• In-neighbourhood confirmation of secondary school options without checking with the school divisions first
• Minimal exposure to rail or arterial-road influence along the neighbourhood’s edges

Selling in Forest Grove

Sellers in Forest Grove need to understand what buyers are comparing against. A buyer may also be looking at Sutherland, College Park, or Silverspring, depending on budget and how much they prioritize single-family housing versus housing variety or a stronger commercial strip nearby. That means the listing should make the home’s exact fit clear, including proximity to Les Kerr Park, the schools, or Central Avenue.

For single-family homes, which the City profile shows as the leading 2024 sales category by volume, buyers will likely focus on mechanical updates, roof and window age, sewer line condition, and any renovation history given the housing stock’s concentration in the 1961-to-1990 range. Sellers should be careful not to overstate the property. In Forest Grove, honest positioning works better, particularly around the home’s exact age and any original-condition systems that may be approaching the end of their service life.

Location within the neighbourhood matters. Homes near Les Kerr Park or the schools may need to be positioned differently than homes near Central Avenue, Attridge Drive, or the rail corridor.

Investor Notes for Forest Grove

Forest Grove has a moderate multi-unit housing share, at 30 percent of the 2021 Census dwelling count, and a 60.0 percent homeownership rate. That gives investors a mix of low-rise apartment condos, semi-detached homes, and two-unit properties to evaluate alongside the dominant single-family stock, and the 2024 sales data recorded 51 low-rise apartment condo sales at an average price of $159,390, the lowest average price among recorded property types that year.

Potential investor options may include low-rise apartment condos, semi-detached homes, two-unit properties, and single-family homes with suite potential. Investors should not assume every basement can legally or safely become a suite. Zoning, permits, ceiling height, egress, parking, fire separation, electrical capacity, and building-code requirements must all be confirmed with the City of Saskatoon before relying on any rental income assumptions.

The City profile’s average gross rent figure of $1,250 is 2021 Census data and should be treated as historical context rather than a current market rate.

Commute And Daily Convenience

Forest Grove has access to Central Avenue and Attridge Drive along its borders, giving residents routes toward Circle Drive and the broader east-side road network. The rail corridor along the southern edge near 115th Street means some routes may require navigating around the corridor, so buyers who commute to other parts of the city should test actual drive times.

Saskatoon Transit’s official routes and schedules page lists Route 26, Forest Grove/University, serving the neighbourhood with a stated weekday and Saturday frequency improvement to 30 minutes as of the most recent schedule update. Transit details should be confirmed by address using Saskatoon Transit’s official routes and schedules page, since route information and timing can change.

For buyers who commute toward the University of Saskatchewan or downtown, Route 26’s direct University connection may be convenient, but drive and transit patterns should be tested during actual commute times.

Winter driving, snow clearing, and parking may vary by property. Buyers should confirm parking details when viewing homes, particularly for any semi-detached or two-unit properties.

Safety And Neighbourhood Perception

No independently verified, current crime statistics for Forest Grove are cited here, none were available from an official source as part of this draft. What can be said directly from City sources is that Forest Grove is an established, mostly single-family northeast neighbourhood with a rail corridor along its southern edge and an arterial road, Attridge Drive, along its northern edge, both of which can affect how individual blocks feel compared with a more interior residential pocket. Buyers who weigh safety perception heavily should walk the specific blocks they are considering at different times of day rather than judging the neighbourhood as a whole, and can request current crime statistics from the Saskatoon Police Service directly.

Pros and Cons of Living in Forest Grove

Pros	Cons
Median multiple of 2.71, below both the Saskatoon average and the City’s affordability threshold	Most of the housing stock dates from 1961 to 1990, which raises maintenance considerations
Majority single-family, majority-owned housing share at 52 percent and 60.0 percent respectively	Limited new construction or modern building envelopes
Two neighbourhood elementary schools, including a French Immersion option	Secondary school options were not independently confirmed for this guide
Established neighbourhood parks, including Les Kerr Park	Rail corridor along the southern edge may affect some locations
Route 26 transit service connecting to the University of Saskatchewan	Smaller condo and rental-housing selection than some nearby neighbourhoods
Shared community association with neighbouring Sutherland	The neighbourhood can feel different block by block near its arterial edges

Compared To Nearby Areas

• Sutherland sits directly to the south and shares a community association with Forest Grove, but generally offers more mixed housing, a stronger rental presence, and a defined commercial strip along Central Avenue, which may suit buyers wanting more housing variety or local services within walking distance.
• College Park lies further south along the same corridor and may appeal to buyers comparing another established east-side neighbourhood closer to the University of Saskatchewan area.
• Silverspring sits to the northeast and may suit buyers wanting a quieter, more owner-occupied neighbourhood with strong access to parks and the river valley area.
• Erindale offers another northeast Saskatoon alternative for buyers comparing a higher share of detached-family housing and newer-era streets than much of Forest Grove.

Best Fit By Buyer Type

Forest Grove is worth considering if you want an established, mostly single-family northeast neighbourhood with a median multiple below the city average and neighbourhood schools within walking distance. It may not be the right fit if you want new construction or a wide selection of condo and rental-style housing.

For many buyers, the decision comes down to comfort with the age of the housing stock and whether Forest Grove’s established, ownership-weighted character and below-average median multiple outweigh the trade-off of more limited housing variety than neighbouring Sutherland.