Forster

An assessment of population growth drivers in Forster reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Forster's population is around 15,004 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 295 people (2.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,709 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,899 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 575 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 443 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Forster's 2.0% growth since the census positions it within 0.8 percentage points of the SA3 area (2.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 68.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationally is expected, with the area expected to increase by 1,832 persons by 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 11.5% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Forster among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Forster has recorded around 117 residential properties granted approval each year, with 588 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 29 so far in FY-26. Given an average of only 0.2 new residents per year per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply is meeting or surpassing demand, providing greater buyer choice while supporting potential for population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average value of $416,000—somewhat higher than regional norms—reflecting quality-focused development. Additionally, $21.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development.

Relative to the Rest of NSW, Forster shows moderately higher new home approvals (31.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New building activity consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, featuring an increasing blend of attached housing types offering choices across price ranges, from spacious family homes to more accessible compact options. The location has approximately 99 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market.

Population forecasts indicate Forster will gain 1,727 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Forster has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 9 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Forster Tuncurry Health Facility (Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project), Forster and Old Bar New Ambulance Stations, Forster Gateway Development - The Lakes Way, and the Forster Main Beach Masterplan, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Forster shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Forster possesses a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with essential services sectors well represented and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. As of December 2025, 5,787 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 0.4% above Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly (46.9% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a low 11.2% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 1.6% of Forster's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.1% while employment declined by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Forster. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Forster's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Forster SA2's median income among taxpayers is $44,342, with an average of $57,485. This is below the national average, and compares to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $48,271 (median) and $62,578 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Forster all fall between the 3rd and 9th percentiles nationally. Looking at income distribution, the $400 - 799 earnings band captures 30.7% of the community (4,606 individuals), unlike trends in the surrounding region where 29.9% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 5th percentile.

Forster displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Forster, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 65.9% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Forster was higher than that of Regional NSW, at 51.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (21.1%) or rented (27.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Regional NSW average at $1,712, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $340, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Forster's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 62.2% of all households, comprising 16.0% couples with children, 35.0% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 37.8%, with lone person households at 34.7% and group households comprising 3.1% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Educational outcomes in Forster fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (16.9%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (31.4%).

A substantial 23.1% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 239 active transport stops operating within Forster, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 35 individual routes, collectively providing 600 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 118 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 92%, with 5% walking. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 11.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 85 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 2 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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

Health data reveals substantial challenges facing Forster, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~7,141 people). This compares to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The national average is 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 13.7 and 9.4% of residents, respectively, while 55.7% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 38.9% of residents aged 65 and over (5,842 people), which is higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Forster is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Forster was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 87.6% of the population born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Forster is Christianity, which makes up 59.9% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Forster are English, comprising 34.2% of the population, Australian, comprising 30.6% of the population, and Irish, comprising 8.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is notably overrepresented at 4.5% of Forster (vs 4.6% regionally), Maltese at 0.5% (vs 0.4%) and Scottish at 8.1% (vs 8.0%).

Forster ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The 57-year median age in Forster is significantly above Regional NSW's average of 43 and similarly substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38. Relative to Regional NSW, Forster has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (19.0%) but fewer 25 - 34 year-olds (7.4%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.1% to 14.6% of the population, while the 0 to 4 cohort increased from 3.5% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.5% to 13.0%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Forster's age structure. The 85+ age cohort is projected to increase markedly, expanding by 498 people (63%) from 796 to 1,295. On the other hand, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups will see reduced numbers.