Forde
Statistical Area - sa2

Forde has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Forde's population was 4,435 as of Aug 2021. By Aug 2025, it decreased to around 4,401, a drop of 34 people (0.8%). This change is inferred from ABS data: Forde's estimated resident population was 4,401 in June 2024. The population density as of Aug 2025 is approximately 2,292 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed about 59.4% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as the base year. By 2041, Forde's population is projected to decline by 22 persons overall, but the 55 to 64 age group is expected to increase by 142 people.

The level of residential development activity in Forde is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Forde has seen virtually no dwelling approvals in recent years. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, showing 4 homes over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, and 0 so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to demand, which is positive for buyers.

Additionally, $2.8 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating limited commercial development focus. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forde shows substantially reduced construction activity. This scarcity of new properties typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, though recent construction activity has intensified.

However, this activity remains below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Forde should see reduced pressure on housing in the future, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Forde has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 35thth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified ten infrastructure projects that could significantly impact the area's performance. These include Raya Gungahlin, Gungahlin Tennis Facility, Amaroo Village Development - Block 9 Section 111, and Gungahlin East Precinct Development. The following list details those considered most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

The exceptional employment performance in Forde places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Forde has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 1.7% as of June 2025, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

The employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.4%. There are 2,770 residents employed with a workforce participation rate of 79.7%, higher than ACT's 69.6%. Leading industries include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 8.4% compared to ACT's 11.7%. The residential area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.4%, labour force grew by 1.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. As of Sep-25, ACT's employment contracted by 0.33%, losing 1,480 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, and employment grew by 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forde's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Forde's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Forde's median income among taxpayers is $86,222 and the average income stands at $98,659. This compares to figures for Australian Capital Territory which are $68,678 (median) and $83,634 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $95,517 (median) and $109,294 (average) as of March 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Forde, between the 98th and 99th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows 41.7% of the population fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 34.3%. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 61.6% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 99th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Forde is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Forde, as per the latest Census, 84.9% of dwellings were houses, with 15.1% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 66.3% houses and 33.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forde was at 16.4%, similar to the Australian Capital Territory's level. The majority of dwellings were mortgaged (60.2%) or rented (23.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forde was $2,481, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,123. The median weekly rent figure in Forde was $590, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $462. Nationally, Forde's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,481 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forde features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 87.0% of all households, including 56.3% couples with children, 20.9% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 13.0%, with lone person households at 11.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.9.

Forde shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Forde is notably higher than national averages. As of 2021, 51.2% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 12.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 37.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest data: primary education (14.5%), secondary education (10.6%), and tertiary education (6.1%). Burgmann Anglican School - Forde Campus provided local educational services until its closure in 2020, with an enrollment of 0 students at that time. All schools in the area offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. As no schools are currently located within Forde, residents must travel to neighboring areas for educational services. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to parent campus data.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transport in Forde shows that there are currently 20 active transport stops operating. These stops offer a mix of bus services. They are served by 8 individual routes, which together provide 549 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 185 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 78 trips per day across all routes, resulting in about 27 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forde's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Forde's health outcomes show excellent results across all age groups. Both younger and older cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover stands at approximately 71% of Forde's total population (3,124 people), higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 58.6%, which is itself above the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 8.0% and 6.7% of residents respectively. A total of 77.0% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 76.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Forde has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 7.2% (316 people), compared to 8.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those in the broader population.

Forde was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forde's population, with 31.9% born overseas and 31.8% speaking a language other than English at home, was more culturally diverse than most local markets. Christianity dominated Forde's religious landscape, comprising 48.8%. Hinduism, however, was overrepresented in Forde at 7.6%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 9.5%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (22.8%), English (20.3%), and Other (11.9%), which was lower than the regional average of 17.2%. Notably, Croatian, Spanish, and Korean ethnicities had higher representations in Forde compared to regional averages: Croatian at 2.2% vs 1.3%, Spanish at 0.8% vs 0.5%, and Korean at 1.0% vs 1.2%.

Forde's population is younger than the national pattern

At 36 years, Forde's median age is nearly matching the Australian Capital Territory average of 35, while somewhat younger than Australia's 38 years. Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Forde has a higher concentration of 45-54 residents (18.3%) but fewer 25-34 year-olds (10.3%). This 45-54 concentration is well above the national average of 12.1%. From the 2021 Census to present, residents have aged by an average of 1.1 years, with the median rising from 35 to 36. Specifically, the 15-24 age group has grown from 12.5% to 14.3%, while the 55-64 cohort increased from 7.1% to 8.7%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 19.5% to 17.1%, and the 35-44 group dropped from 20.3% to 18.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Forde. The 55-64 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 30%, adding 114 residents to reach 499. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 50% of projected growth. On the other hand, the 0-4 and 25-34 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.