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 August 2021. By June 2024, it had decreased to 4,401, a drop of 34 people (0.8%), based on ABS estimates and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density of 2,292 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 59.4% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are used, also based on 2022. By 2041, the population is projected to decline by 22 persons overall, but specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 55-64 age group, which is projected 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 averaged approximately one new dwelling approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, there have been five home approvals and none so far in FY26.

The population decline over recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice. Commercial development approvals totaling $2.8 million have been recorded this financial year, indicating limited commercial development focus compared to the Australian Capital Territory. Forde shows reduced construction compared to other areas, potentially strengthening demand and prices for existing properties due to scarcity of new ones.

Recent construction activity has intensified but remains below average nationally, suggesting possible planning constraints in the area. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Forde may see reduced pressure on housing, creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified ten projects that may affect the region. Notable ones include Raya Gungahlin, Gungahlin Tennis Facility, Amaroo Village Development - Block 9 Section 111, and Gungahlin East Precinct Development. The following list details those likely to be 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's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.7% as of June 2025, below the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.4%. There were 2,770 residents employed while workforce participation stood at 79.7%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Leading employment industries in Forde include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

However, health care & social assistance was under-represented with only 8.4% of the workforce compared to ACT's 11.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.4% while labour force grew by 1.6%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.7 percentage points. By comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9%, labour force growth of 1.6%, with unemployment falling 0.3 percentage points. As of Sep-25, ACT's employment contracted by 0.33% (losing 1,480 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project national employment growth of 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.

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 ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Forde's median income among taxpayers is $86,222 and average income stands at $98,659. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory's median and average incomes are $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. 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 (1,835 individuals) 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. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 99th percentile for disposable income and 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 most recent Census data, 84.9% of dwellings were houses with 15.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's 66.3% houses and 33.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forde stood at 16.4%, similar to the ACT's level. Mortgaged dwellings made up 60.2% while rented ones accounted for 23.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,481, higher than the ACT average of $2,123. Median weekly rent in Forde was $590 compared to the ACT's $462. Nationally, Forde's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,481 versus Australia's 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 years and above have university qualifications, compared to Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.1%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, 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 point: 14.5% in primary education, 10.6% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education. Burgmann Anglican School - Forde Campus provided local educational services within Forde until its closure on 31 December 2020, with an enrollment of 0 students at the time of closure. All schools offering integrated K-12 education provide continuity throughout students' academic journey in Forde. As there are no schools located within Forde currently, residents must travel to neighboring areas for educational services.

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

Public transport analysis shows that Forde has 20 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops are served by a mix of buses, with 8 individual routes in total. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 549.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 185 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 78 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 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 data shows excellent results across all age groups. Both younger and older cohorts have a low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is notably high at approximately 71% of Forde's total population (3,124 people), compared to 58.6% in the Australian Capital Territory and 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 significant majority, 77.0%, report having no medical ailments, slightly higher than the ACT's 76.4%. Forde has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 7.2% (316 people) compared to the ACT's 8.3%. 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, surveyed in 2016-2021, had a higher proportion of overseas-born residents (31.9%) than most local markets. Additionally, 31.8% spoke languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (48.8%), but Hinduism was overrepresented 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%), lower than regional averages. Notably, Croatian (2.2%) and Spanish (0.8%) residents were overrepresented compared to regional figures of 1.3% and 0.5%, respectively. Korean residents, at 1.0%, were slightly under the regional average of 1.2%.

Forde's population is younger than the national pattern

Forde's median age is nearly 36 years, closely matching the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but slightly younger than Australia's median age of 38. Compared with the Australian Capital Territory, Forde has a higher concentration of residents aged 45-54 (18.3%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.3%). This concentration of residents aged 45-54 is significantly higher than the national average of 12.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, Forde's residents have aged by an average of 1.1 years, with the median age rising from 35 to 36 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 12.5% to 14.3%, while those aged 55-64 have risen from 7.1% to 8.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5-14 has declined from 19.5% to 17.1%, and those aged 35-44 have decreased from 20.3% to 18.0%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Forde, with the strongest projected growth in the 55-64 age group (30%), adding 114 residents to reach a total of 499. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising half of the projected population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 25-34 age groups are expected to experience population declines.