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What It's Really Like to Live in Forest Hills, Cole Harbour
Forest Hills is a planned family neighbourhood in Cole Harbour, built mostly in the 1970s and 1980s. It was laid out so that schools, parks and shopping are connected by walkways and green spaces, and that design still shapes daily life. Kids walk to school along footpaths, neighbours meet at the playground, and people mention its friendly, unpretentious feel.
Housing is mostly semi-detached homes, townhouses, split-entries and bungalows, many on quiet crescents and cul-de-sacs. Because of the many semi-detached homes and townhouses, Forest Hills is one of the more affordable places in HRM to buy a home with its own yard, and it's popular with first-time buyers, young families and investors.
There's plenty to do close to home. Cole Harbour Place, with its pools, ice pads, gym and library, is minutes away. The Salt Marsh Trail and Cole Harbour Heritage Park are about 10 minutes away, and Rainbow Haven and Lawrencetown beaches are an easy drive for summer weekends. The neighbourhood itself has parks, ball fields and playgrounds connected by walkways.
Forest Hills is well connected. The Portland Hills transit terminal and park-and-ride offer express buses to downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Highways 111 and 107 put downtown Dartmouth about 10 minutes away, downtown Halifax about 20–25 minutes away and Dartmouth Crossing about 15 minutes away.
Groceries, pharmacies, restaurants and services are right along Forest Hills Parkway, with more options on Cole Harbour Road and in the Penhorn area. Buyers usually choose Forest Hills because they want an affordable, family-friendly neighbourhood that's walkable inside the community, has good transit and is close to beaches and recreation.
Forest Hills Schools and Community Information
Schools and School Districts
- Public schools (English): Run by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE). Neighbourhood schools include George Bissett Elementary, Robert Kemp Turner Elementary, Joseph Giles Elementary and Sir Robert Borden Junior High. High school students attend Auburn Drive High or Cole Harbour District High. Confirm a specific address with the HRCE school locator.
- French first-language schools: Run by the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), including École du Carrefour in nearby Dartmouth.
- Private and independent schools: Most are in Halifax and Bedford, about 20–30 minutes away.
Colleges and Universities
- Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) – Ivany Campus in Dartmouth, about 15 minutes away
- Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and NSCAD University – about 20–25 minutes away in Halifax
Restaurants and Cafés
- Forest Hills Parkway: Family restaurants, pizza shops, coffee shops and takeout
- Cole Harbour Road: Pubs and casual dining
- Downtown Dartmouth: Cafés, breweries and restaurants about 15 minutes away
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
- Neighbourhood walkways, playgrounds and ball fields
- Cole Harbour Place – pools, ice pads, a fitness centre and the library
- Salt Marsh Trail (Cole Harbour Heritage Park)
- Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park – about 15 minutes away
- Lawrencetown Beach – about 20 minutes away
Shopping Areas
- Forest Hills Parkway – grocery stores, pharmacies and services
- Cole Harbour Road and the Penhorn area
- Dartmouth Crossing – about 15 minutes away
- Mic Mac Mall – about 15 minutes away
Local Attractions and Landmarks
- Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
- Salt Marsh Trail
- Cole Harbour Place
- Rainbow Haven and Lawrencetown beaches
Forest Hills Neighbourhood FAQs
What is it like to live in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is a friendly, planned family neighbourhood in Cole Harbour. Walkways connect homes to schools and parks, and shopping on Forest Hills Parkway, express buses and nearby beaches make everyday life convenient.
What types of homes are available in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is mostly semi-detached homes, townhouses, split-entries and bungalows built in the 1970s and 1980s, many on quiet crescents and cul-de-sacs.
What is the lifestyle like in Forest Hills?
The lifestyle is family-focused and convenient. Kids walk to school, families use the Cole Harbour Place facilities, and weekends often include the Salt Marsh Trail or the beach.
What is the real estate market like in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is one of the more affordable neighbourhoods in HRM for owning a home with a yard, which makes it popular with first-time buyers and investors. Semi-detached homes and townhouses are often the lowest price point. See our Halifax-Dartmouth market statistics for current numbers, or get a free home value estimate.
How far is Forest Hills from downtown Halifax?
Downtown Halifax is about 20–25 minutes away by car, or you can take an express bus from the Portland Hills terminal. Downtown Dartmouth is about 10 minutes away, and Halifax Stanfield International Airport is about 30 minutes away.
Why do people choose to live in Forest Hills?
People choose Forest Hills for its affordable homes, walkable family-friendly layout, local schools, good transit and nearby beaches and recreation.
Is Forest Hills a good place for first-time buyers?
Yes. Semi-detached homes and townhouses in Forest Hills are a common first step into home ownership in HRM.
Is Forest Hills part of Cole Harbour?
Yes. Forest Hills is a neighbourhood within Cole Harbour, east of Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Explore Nearby Communities
Comparing neighbourhoods? Explore our other Halifax Regional Municipality community guides:
Buying or Selling in Forest Hills? Helpful Resources
- Our Flat Fee Program: Sell your Forest Hills home with full MLS® exposure and keep more of your equity
- What's My Home Worth?: Get a free market value estimate for your Forest Hills home
- Free Home Seller's Guide: Step-by-step tips to prepare, price and sell
- Free Home Buyer's Guide: Everything you need to know before buying in HRM
- Halifax-Dartmouth Market Statistics: The latest monthly MLS® numbers
- Our Blog: Local market updates and real estate advice
- Client Testimonials: Hear from Forest Hills buyers and sellers we've helped
Questions about living in Forest Hills? Call Assist 2 Sell HomeWorks Realty at (902) 446-3113 or contact us online.
What It's Really Like to Live in Forest Hills, Cole Harbour
Forest Hills is a planned family neighbourhood in Cole Harbour, built mostly in the 1970s and 1980s. It was laid out so that schools, parks and shopping are connected by walkways and green spaces, and that design still shapes daily life. Kids walk to school along footpaths, neighbours meet at the playground, and people mention its friendly, unpretentious feel.
Housing is mostly semi-detached homes, townhouses, split-entries and bungalows, many on quiet crescents and cul-de-sacs. Because of the many semi-detached homes and townhouses, Forest Hills is one of the more affordable places in HRM to buy a home with its own yard, and it's popular with first-time buyers, young families and investors.
There's plenty to do close to home. Cole Harbour Place, with its pools, ice pads, gym and library, is minutes away. The Salt Marsh Trail and Cole Harbour Heritage Park are about 10 minutes away, and Rainbow Haven and Lawrencetown beaches are an easy drive for summer weekends. The neighbourhood itself has parks, ball fields and playgrounds connected by walkways.
Forest Hills is well connected. The Portland Hills transit terminal and park-and-ride offer express buses to downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Highways 111 and 107 put downtown Dartmouth about 10 minutes away, downtown Halifax about 20–25 minutes away and Dartmouth Crossing about 15 minutes away.
Groceries, pharmacies, restaurants and services are right along Forest Hills Parkway, with more options on Cole Harbour Road and in the Penhorn area. Buyers usually choose Forest Hills because they want an affordable, family-friendly neighbourhood that's walkable inside the community, has good transit and is close to beaches and recreation.
Forest Hills Schools and Community Information
Schools and School Districts
- Public schools (English): Run by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE). Neighbourhood schools include George Bissett Elementary, Robert Kemp Turner Elementary, Joseph Giles Elementary and Sir Robert Borden Junior High. High school students attend Auburn Drive High or Cole Harbour District High. Confirm a specific address with the HRCE school locator.
- French first-language schools: Run by the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), including École du Carrefour in nearby Dartmouth.
- Private and independent schools: Most are in Halifax and Bedford, about 20–30 minutes away.
Colleges and Universities
- Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) – Ivany Campus in Dartmouth, about 15 minutes away
- Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and NSCAD University – about 20–25 minutes away in Halifax
Restaurants and Cafés
- Forest Hills Parkway: Family restaurants, pizza shops, coffee shops and takeout
- Cole Harbour Road: Pubs and casual dining
- Downtown Dartmouth: Cafés, breweries and restaurants about 15 minutes away
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
- Neighbourhood walkways, playgrounds and ball fields
- Cole Harbour Place – pools, ice pads, a fitness centre and the library
- Salt Marsh Trail (Cole Harbour Heritage Park)
- Rainbow Haven Beach Provincial Park – about 15 minutes away
- Lawrencetown Beach – about 20 minutes away
Shopping Areas
- Forest Hills Parkway – grocery stores, pharmacies and services
- Cole Harbour Road and the Penhorn area
- Dartmouth Crossing – about 15 minutes away
- Mic Mac Mall – about 15 minutes away
Local Attractions and Landmarks
- Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum
- Salt Marsh Trail
- Cole Harbour Place
- Rainbow Haven and Lawrencetown beaches
Forest Hills Neighbourhood FAQs
What is it like to live in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is a friendly, planned family neighbourhood in Cole Harbour. Walkways connect homes to schools and parks, and shopping on Forest Hills Parkway, express buses and nearby beaches make everyday life convenient.
What types of homes are available in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is mostly semi-detached homes, townhouses, split-entries and bungalows built in the 1970s and 1980s, many on quiet crescents and cul-de-sacs.
What is the lifestyle like in Forest Hills?
The lifestyle is family-focused and convenient. Kids walk to school, families use the Cole Harbour Place facilities, and weekends often include the Salt Marsh Trail or the beach.
What is the real estate market like in Forest Hills?
Forest Hills is one of the more affordable neighbourhoods in HRM for owning a home with a yard, which makes it popular with first-time buyers and investors. Semi-detached homes and townhouses are often the lowest price point. See our Halifax-Dartmouth market statistics for current numbers, or get a free home value estimate.
How far is Forest Hills from downtown Halifax?
Downtown Halifax is about 20–25 minutes away by car, or you can take an express bus from the Portland Hills terminal. Downtown Dartmouth is about 10 minutes away, and Halifax Stanfield International Airport is about 30 minutes away.
Why do people choose to live in Forest Hills?
People choose Forest Hills for its affordable homes, walkable family-friendly layout, local schools, good transit and nearby beaches and recreation.
Is Forest Hills a good place for first-time buyers?
Yes. Semi-detached homes and townhouses in Forest Hills are a common first step into home ownership in HRM.
Is Forest Hills part of Cole Harbour?
Yes. Forest Hills is a neighbourhood within Cole Harbour, east of Dartmouth in the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Explore Nearby Communities
Comparing neighbourhoods? Explore our other Halifax Regional Municipality community guides:
Buying or Selling in Forest Hills? Helpful Resources
- Our Flat Fee Program: Sell your Forest Hills home with full MLS® exposure and keep more of your equity
- What's My Home Worth?: Get a free market value estimate for your Forest Hills home
- Free Home Seller's Guide: Step-by-step tips to prepare, price and sell
- Free Home Buyer's Guide: Everything you need to know before buying in HRM
- Halifax-Dartmouth Market Statistics: The latest monthly MLS® numbers
- Our Blog: Local market updates and real estate advice
- Client Testimonials: Hear from Forest Hills buyers and sellers we've helped
Questions about living in Forest Hills? Call Assist 2 Sell HomeWorks Realty at (902) 446-3113 or contact us online.
