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 was 15,047 as of May 2026. This figure, an increase of 338 people (2.3%) from the 2021 Census count of 14,709, is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data and validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 444 persons per square kilometer in May 2026. Forster's growth rate of 2.3% since the census was close to the SA3 area's 2.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Interstate migration contributed approximately 80.6% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 where necessary, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Forster is expected to increase by 1,647 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.9% over the 16 years.

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

Forster recorded approximately 117 residential properties approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25588 homes were approved, with an additional 36 approved in FY-26 to date. The average new resident per year per dwelling constructed over these five financial years was 0.2.

This supply meets or exceeds demand, offering greater buyer choice while supporting potential population growth above projections. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $416,000, which is somewhat higher than regional norms due to quality-focused development. In FY-26, Forster has recorded $21.4 million in commercial development approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development.

Compared to the rest of NSW, Forster shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 32.0% 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. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Forster is expected to gain 1,643 residents by 2041. 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

Ten projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area's performance. These include the Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project - Forster-Tuncurry Health Facility, 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 comprises an equal mix of white and blue-collar jobs, with essential services well-represented. As of December 2025, 5,787 residents are employed, resulting in a 4.4% unemployment rate. This is 0.4% higher than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation stands at 46.3%, significantly lower than Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census data reveals that only 11.2% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional average), retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Agriculture, forestry & fishing, however, is under-represented with only 1.6% of Forster's workforce compared to Regional NSW's 5.3%.

Over the year ending 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 saw an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national growth rates of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Forster's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Forster SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $44,342 and an average of $57,485. This is below the national average. Regional NSW has a median income of $52,390 and an average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Forster would be approximately $48,918 (median) and $63,417 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Forster fall between the 3rd and 9th percentiles nationally. The income distribution shows that 30.7% of individuals earn between $400 - 799, unlike surrounding regions where more people fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 5th percentile.

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

Forster's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.9% houses and 34.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Forster's home ownership rate was 51.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.1% and rented ones at 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forster was $1,712, lower than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Forster was $340, higher than Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Forster's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 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 make up 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, 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's university qualification rate is 16.9%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (31.4%).

A substantial 23.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.8% in primary, 7.1% in secondary, and 1.6% in 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, all of which are bus stops. These are served by 35 different routes that together facilitate 600 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents on average located 118 meters from the nearest stop. Forster is predominantly residential, and most commuters travel outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 92%, while 5% walk. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.2% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 85 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly two weekly trips per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 closest stops to the location's 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 significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~7,162 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.7%) and mental health issues (9.4%). Conversely, 55.7% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, lower than Regional NSW's 63.3%. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors at 39.3%, with 5,913 people aged 65 and over, compared to Regional NSW's 23.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

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 lower 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, practiced by 59.9%, compared to Regional NSW's 55.9%. The top three ancestral groups were English (34.2%), Australian (30.6%), and Irish (8.9%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (4.5%) and Maltese (0.5%) populations were higher than regional averages of 4.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Scottish ancestry was also slightly higher at 8.1%.

Forster ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Forster is 57 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years, and substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NSW, Forster has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (19.2%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7%). This concentration of 65-74-year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.1% to 14.7% of Forster's population, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 14.5% to 13.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Forster's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to increase markedly, expanding by 496 people (62%) from 805 to 1,302. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.