Forbes

Forbes is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Forbes' population was approximately 10,156 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 136 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,020. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 9,990 in June 2024 and an additional 222 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2.2 persons per square kilometer. Forbes' growth rate of 1.4% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (0.8%), indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 58.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends project an above median growth for national regional areas, with Forbes expected to grow by 1,317 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 11.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Forbes, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Forbes has recorded approximately 30 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25154 homes have been approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $392,000.

In terms of commercial development, Forbes has registered $27.0 million in approvals this financial year, indicating moderate levels of activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Forbes has similar development levels per person, which supports market stability and aligns with regional patterns. However, these levels are below average nationally, suggesting maturity in the area and possible planning constraints. The majority of new developments consist of standalone homes (85%), maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes.

This is reflected by the approximate 286 people per dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate Forbes will gain 1,151 residents by 2041, and development appears to be keeping pace with projected growth. However, as the population expands, buyers may face increasing competition for dwellings.

Forbes has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can greatly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of seven projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include Goldridge Estate, Forbes Development Project, Homemakers Centre Stage 2, and Forbes Multipurpose Equestrian Centre. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.9%, Forbes has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Forbes has a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation and an unemployment rate of 2.9% as of September 2025. This is below the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation stands at 66.9%, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 61.5%.

A low 11.6% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Forbes specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 3.6 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance employs only 13.2% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 16.9%.

Many residents may commute elsewhere for work, based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 3.7%, while employment fell by 4.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that over five years, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Forbes' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Forbes SA2 is lower than average on a national basis. The median income is $50,901 and the average income is $58,526. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $55,411 (median) and $63,711 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Forbes fall between the 17th and 31st percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 27.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing costs are modest with 87.7% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 21st percentile nationally.

Forbes is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forbes' residential structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.2% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forbes was at 40.9%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with the rest being mortgaged (31.2%) or rented (27.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,257, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent was $230, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Forbes' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were below the national figure of $375.

Forbes features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 66.7% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 30.4% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 31.1% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

Forbes faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.8%) and certificates (31.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.2% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forbes has 889 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 44 routes, providing a total of 579 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 116 meters to the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commutes are outward-bound. The car is the primary mode of transport, used by 92% of residents, while 6% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 82 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly 0 weekly trips per individual stop. The map accompanying this data shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Health performance in Forbes is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Forbes faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~4,915 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (10.7%) and mental health issues (8.3%). 63.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 23.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,362 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The latest Census data sees Forbes placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forbes' cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.3% of its population being citizens, 95.2% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. The majority religion in Forbes is Christianity, comprising 71.2%, compared to 55.9% across the Rest of NSW. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (34.3%), English (30.7%), and Irish (9.5%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 9.0% in Forbes than regionally at 4.6%. Macedonian and French representations are lower, at 0.1% each compared to regional averages of 0.4%.

Forbes's median age exceeds the national pattern

Forbes has a median age of 43, which is equal to that of the Rest of NSW and well above the national average of 38 years. The age profile indicates that those aged 5-14 years are notably prominent, comprising 13.2% of the population, while the 35-44 age group is comparatively smaller at 10.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 10.7% to 11.4% of Forbes' population. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has decreased from 12.2% to 11.3%. By the year 2041, demographic projections suggest significant shifts in Forbes' age structure. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 27%, increasing from 1,110 to 1,412 people. Conversely, numbers in the 55 to 64 age range are expected to fall by 19%.