Forbes
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was approximately 10,224 by August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 204 individuals (2.0%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,020. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,034 in June 2024 and an additional 209 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2.2 persons per square kilometer. Forbes' growth of 2.0% since the 2021 census surpassed that of its SA3 area (0.3%), positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 58.0% to 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 by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the 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 latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 10.6% over the 17-year period.

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 FY25, a total of 154 homes have been approved, with an additional 9 approved so far in FY26. The population has fallen during this period, suggesting that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choice for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $397,000, which aligns with regional trends. In terms of commercial development activity, Forbes has registered $27.0 million in approvals this financial year, indicating a balanced level of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Forbes shows comparable development activity per person, maintaining market balance consistent with the broader area. However, this is lower than national levels, reflecting market maturity and suggesting possible development constraints.

New development consists of 85% standalone homes and 15% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The location has approximately 286 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Forbes is expected to grow by 1083 residents through to 2041. Building activity appears to be keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may experience increased competition as the population grows.

Forbes has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely to affect the region. Notable ones are Forbes Development Project, Goldridge Estate, Homemakers Centre Stage 2, and Forbes Multipurpose Equestrian Centre. The following list details those most 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.

Employment performance in Forbes exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Forbes maintains a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation, featuring an unemployment rate of 2.3% as of June 2025. In this month, 5,270 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.4 percentage points lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Forbes is similar to Rest of NSW's figure of 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Forbes has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 3.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance employs only 13.2% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's rate of 16.9%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work, indicated by the count of Census working population to local population. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, Forbes' labour force decreased by 2.4%, accompanied by a 3.2% decrease in employment, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.7 percentage points. By comparison, Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and an unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Forbes. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Forbes' employment mix indicates local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.1% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Forbes is lower than average on a national basis. The median income is $49,571 and the average income stands at $59,241. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $49,459 and the average income is $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $55,822 (median) and $66,711 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family and personal incomes in Forbes all fall between the 17th and 31st percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 27.1% of the community (2,770 individuals), similar to the region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. While housing costs are modest with 87.7% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 22nd percentile nationally.

Forbes is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Forbes' dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.2% houses and 9.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forbes stood at 40.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.2% and rented ones at 27.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,257, exceeding Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,200. The median weekly rent in Forbes was $230, higher than Non-Metro NSW's figure of $220. Nationally, Forbes' mortgage repayments were lower at $1,257 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $230 versus the national figure of $375.

Forbes features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 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 comprise the remaining 33.3%, with lone person households at 31.1% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

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

Forbes faces educational challenges, with its university qualification rate at 15.5%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 8.8% and certificates at 31.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.2% in primary, 8.6% in secondary, and 2.5% in tertiary education.

Forbes operates a robust network of 8 schools educating approximately 2,080 students. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (20.3 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 16.0), indicating the area serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Forbes has 865 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 45 individual routes that collectively provide 527 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 115 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 75 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

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, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of Forbes' total population (~5,019 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 10.7% of residents) and mental health issues (8.3%), while 63.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW's 62.4%. Forbes has a high proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.1% (2,364 people), with their health outcomes presenting challenges broadly in line with the general population's profile.

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 had a lower than average cultural diversity, with 89.3% citizens, 95.2% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 71.2%, compared to 70.4% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (34.3%), English (30.7%), and Irish (9.5%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal people were overrepresented at 9.0% in Forbes versus 7.9% regionally, while Macedonian was 0.1% versus 0%, and French was 0.4% versus 0.3%.

Forbes hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Forbes has a median age of 43, which is equal to that of Rest of NSW and higher than the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 5-14 years make up 13.4% of the population, while the 35-44 group constitutes 10.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of people aged 25 to 34 has increased from 10.7% to 11.5%, while the percentage of those aged 65 to 74 has decreased from 12.2% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Forbes's age structure. The 45-54 group is expected to grow by 24%, reaching 1,412 people from the current 1,135. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups.