Forster

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

Forster's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 15,004, indicating a rise of 295 individuals (2.0%) since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 14,709. This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 14,899 in June 2024 and an additional 575 validated new addresses post-census. The population density stands at 443 persons per square kilometer, offering ample space per person with potential for further development. Forster's growth rate since census, at 2.0%, is within 0.8 percentage points of the SA3 area's 2.8%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 68.6% of overall population gains recently. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, 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. Based on projected demographic shifts, Forster is expected to increase by just below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationally, adding 1,832 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 11.5% over the 17 years.

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

Forster has recorded approximately 117 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25588 homes have been approved, with an additional 27 approved so far in FY-26. The average number of new residents per year per dwelling constructed over these five years is 0.2.

This supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice and supporting potential population growth beyond projections. New properties are constructed at an average value of $416,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms, reflecting quality-focused development. In FY-26, $21.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to the Rest of NSW, Forster shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 31.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New building activity consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, offering a blend of attached housing types across various price ranges. The location has approximately 99 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts indicate Forster will gain 1,727 residents by 2041, according to 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

Nine projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. These 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 Forster Main Beach Masterplan.

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's workforce is balanced across white and blue collar jobs, with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.5% as of September 2025. In comparison to Rest of NSW, Forster had an unemployment rate 0.6% higher at 3.8%, and a lower workforce participation rate of 47.6%.

According to Census responses, only 11.2% of residents worked from home. Employment was concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional average), retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited representation with 1.6% of Forster's workforce compared to 5.3% in Rest of NSW. Labour force levels increased by 0.5% over the year ending September 2025 while employment declined by 0.5%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.9 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW saw an employment decline of 0.5% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a smaller increase in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forster's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

As per AreaSearch's latest data released on 1st July 2023, Forster SA2's median income among taxpayers is $44,342. The average income in Forster is $57,485. Both figures are below the national averages. In comparison, Rest of NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated median income for Forster as of September 2025 would be approximately $48,271, with the average being around $62,578. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Forster fall between the 3rd and 9th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 30.7% of Forster residents earn between $400 - $799 (4,606 individuals), unlike surrounding regions where 29.9% earn between $1,500 - $2,999. Housing affordability is severe in Forster, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile nationally.

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

The dwelling structure in Forster, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.9% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Forster's home ownership rate was 51.7%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged at 21.1% or rented at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forster was $1,712, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Forster was recorded at $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330 and the national figure of $375.

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

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

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.9%, 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 the most common, with 12.1% of residents holding such qualifications, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15 and above, with 42.1% holding such qualifications.

Advanced diplomas account for 10.7%, while certificates make up 31.4% of vocational credentials. A notable 23.1% of the population is actively engaged in 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

Forster has 239 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by 35 different routes that together facilitate 600 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located just 118 meters from the nearest stop. Forster is predominantly residential, and most residents commute outward using private vehicles, which remain the dominant mode at 92%. Five percent of residents walk for their commutes. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.2% of Forster's residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 85 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays 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

Forster faces substantial 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 Forster's total population (~7,141 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.7%) and mental health issues (9.4%). 55.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Forster has 38.9% of residents aged 65 and over (5,842 people), higher than the 23.4% in Rest of 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's population showed low cultural diversity, with 87.6% born in Australia, 90.9% being citizens, and 96.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forster, comprising 59.9%, compared to 55.9% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.2%), Australian (30.6%), and Irish (8.9%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal were overrepresented at 4.5% in Forster versus 4.6% regionally, Maltese at 0.5% versus 0.4%, and Scottish at 8.1% versus 8.0%.

Forster ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Forster is 57 years, which is significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Forster has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (19.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.4%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.1% to 14.6%, 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 are projected to decrease in number.