Forde

Forde has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Forde is around 4,401, a decrease of 34 people (0.8%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,435. This estimate was derived by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. The population density is approximately 2,234 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed around 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. According to ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and ACT Government's SA2 area projections for years post-2032, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 22 persons by 2041.

However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, notably the 55 to 64 age group which is projected to increase by 143 people over this period.

The level of residential development activity in Forde is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows Forde had virtually no dwelling approvals in recent years. Between FY21 and FY25, an estimated 4 homes were approved, with none so far in FY26.

Despite population decline over this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population changes. Commercial development approvals totalled $67,000 in FY26, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forde shows substantially reduced construction levels, which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties.

However, development activity has picked up recently. This level is also lower than national averages, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. Stable or declining population forecasts may reduce housing pressure in Forde, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Nine projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area significantly, with key projects including Moncrieff East Residential Estate, Gungahlin Tennis Facility (Amaroo Tennis Centre), Amaroo Village Development - Block 9 Section 111, and Gungahlin Community Centre. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Forde performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Forde has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.5% over the past year. This is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 2,702 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.9% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation is high at 80.7%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 14.0% of residents work from home.

Leading employment industries include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 8.4%, compared to the regional average of 11.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5% and labour force increased by 0.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment grow by 1.4%, labour force expand by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Forde's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Forde had a median taxpayer income of $86,222 and an average of $98,659. Nationally, these figures rank in the top percentile. In comparison, ACT has median and average incomes of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 9.26%, median income is estimated at $94,206 and average at $107,795. Census 2021 data ranks Forde's household, family, and personal incomes between the 98th and 99th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows 41.7% of residents earn over $4,000 weekly, differing from metropolitan patterns where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates at 34.3%. Higher earners make up 61.6% of Forde's population, indicating strong purchasing power. Housing consumes 13.6% of income, and residents rank in the 99th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Forde is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Forde's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, comprised 84.9% houses and 15.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forde was at 16.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 60.2% and rented dwellings at 23.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forde was $2,481, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Forde was $590, compared to Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Forde's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Forde features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 87.0% of all households, including 56.3% couples with children, 20.9% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 13.0%, with lone person households at 11.2% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Forde demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Forde has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 51.2% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4%. This significant educational advantage is driven by bachelor degrees, which are held by 28.1% of residents in this age group. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 18.0%, with graduate diplomas making up 5.1%. Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 12.1%.

Educational participation is high in Forde, with 37.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.5% in primary education, 10.6% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Forde has 22 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 38 different routes that together facilitate 2,187 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically situated just 185 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most Forde residents commute outward. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 91% of residents. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling in Forde, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.0% of Forde residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 312 trips per day, equating to approximately 99 weekly trips per individual stop.

Forde's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Forde. AreaSearch's assessment indicates low prevalence of common health conditions among both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 66% of the total population (2,911 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.0 and 6.7% of residents respectively, while 77.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. Forde has 7.7% of residents aged 65 and over (338 people), lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Forde was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Forde's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.9% of residents born overseas and 31.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Forde as of 2021, constituting 48.8% of its population. However, Hinduism stood out with 7.6%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestry groups in Forde were Australian (22.8%), English (20.3%), and Other (11.9%). Notably, Croatian, Spanish, and Korean ethnicities had higher representations than regional averages: Croatian at 2.2% vs 0.9%, Spanish at 0.8% vs 0.5%, and Korean at 1.0% vs 0.6%.

Forde's population is younger than the national pattern

Forde's median age in 2021 was 36 years, nearly matching the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but somewhat younger than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Forde had a higher concentration of residents aged 45-54 (18.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.3%). This 45-54 concentration was well above the national average of 12.0%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Forde's residents aged by an average of 1.4 years, with the median age rising from 35 to 36. Specifically, the 15-24 age group grew from 12.5% to 14.6%, while the 55-64 cohort increased from 7.1% to 9.2%. Conversely, the 35-44 cohort declined from 20.3% to 17.2%, and the 5-14 group dropped from 19.5% to 16.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Forde. The 55-64 cohort is projected to grow by 23%, adding 94 residents to reach 499. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 53% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 25-34 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.