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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Forster (NSW) is $900k, with units at $650k. House values have moved 4.8% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Forster (NSW) has an estimated 14,522 residents, up from 14,187 at the 2021 Census — a change of 335 people, or 2.4%. 573 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 446 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Based on demographic evaluations from the ABS for the surrounding region, combined with address validations performed by AreaSearch following the Census, the suburb of Forster (NSW) has a projected population of approximately 14,522 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 335 people (2.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a total of 14,187 people. This shift is derived from a resident count of 14,518, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of ERP details along with 573 validated new addresses confirmed post-census. The current population distribution yields a density of 446 persons per square kilometer, indicating low crowding and potential capacity for future housing projects.
The 2.4% post-census growth rate for the suburb of Forster (NSW) is within 0.5 percentage points of the wider SA3 region (2.9%), showing comparable local demand. The primary driver of this population growth was interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 69.0% of the overall population increases during recent timeframes. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are applied to each SA2 district, and where missing, the 2022 release of NSW State Government projections with a 2021 baseline is used. Age-specific growth trajectories from these sources are also used to project demographic structures for the suburb of Forster (NSW) between 2032 and 2041. Over the long term, population expansion is projected to track slightly below the median for non-metropolitan Australia, with the local area expected to add 1,621 persons by 2041, translating to an overall growth rate of 11.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
585 new dwellings have been approved in Forster (NSW) over the past five years, an average of 117 a year. That places the area in the 72nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 8 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 133 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 60% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 49, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of building approval statistics reveals that Forster averages approximately 117 residential approvals annually, resulting in an estimated 585 new dwellings authorized over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 45 approvals have been documented so far. Because only an average of 0.5 people moved to the area per completed dwelling between FY-21 and FY-25, new supply is effectively balancing or exceeding incoming resident demand, giving purchasers more choices and facilitating potential population gains that could outpace current forecasts. The average construction cost of these new builds is $781,000, indicating that developers are focusing on higher-end, premium housing.
Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $21.4 million this financial year, showing steady investment in local business infrastructure. In comparison to the Rest of NSW, new residential approvals in Forster are moderately elevated, running 36.0% above the regional average per capita over the 5 year timeframe, which helps maintain choices for buyers while supporting existing home values. The mix of construction projects consists of 60.0% standalone houses and 40.0% multi-unit developments or apartments, providing options across multiple price ranges, from traditional family residences to compact options. The local development density stands at approximately 86 people per approved dwelling, representing a low-density profile. Long-term projections indicate that Forster will add 1,617 new residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates. Given current building trends, the upcoming supply of homes should comfortably satisfy this demand, establishing positive conditions for buyers and potentially allowing growth to exceed current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Forster (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 10 current infrastructure and development projects inside Forster (NSW), worth an estimated $1.3 billion. A further 46 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.55 billion. 13 are already under construction and 13 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and communities. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local development and economic performance are heavily shaped by planning changes and infrastructure projects. AreaSearch has identified 10 key projects of interest in the vicinity, including 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 the Forster Main Beach Masterplan.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project - Forster-Tuncurry Health Facility
The NSW Government is investing $180 million in the Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project, which brings together the Manning Base Hospital Redevelopment Stage 2 and the Forster-Tuncurry health facility. Manning works are advancing through planning, public exhibition and contractor involvement, while planning for a Forster-Tuncurry health service model is continuing with options being considered with clinicians, stakeholders and the community.
Forster Gateway Development - The Lakes Way
Proposed redevelopment of a 25.12ha site along The Lakes Way, Forster, accommodating a mix of residential, commercial and conservation zones. The site includes the Great Lakes Tavern and bottleshop, a shopping complex, motel, cafe/bar and houses. The planning proposal, endorsed by MidCoast Council at its March 2025 ordinary meeting, is now before the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a gateway determination ahead of community consultation. The site has potential to provide approximately 135 dwellings across residential flat buildings, units, villas, dual occupancies, terrace houses and single dwellings in low-medium density residential and mixed-use zones.
Forster Main Beach Masterplan
A comprehensive 30-year strategy to revitalise the Forster Main Beach precinct. It includes upgrading the Ocean Baths, building a new Surf Life Saving Club, improving public amenities, and creating more accessible public green spaces.
Forster Civic Precinct - Solaris
A completed mixed-use precinct in Forster featuring a new public library, visitor information centre, customer service point, community spaces, retail and dining tenancies, and a residential apartment tower, with future stages encompassing seniors living facilities.
Forster and Old Bar Ambulance Stations
New ambulance stations in Forster and Old Bar providing improved emergency medical services coverage for the Mid North Coast region. Both stations are now completed and operational as part of the NSW Government's $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program.
4-12 Breese Parade Large Format Retail Development
A large-format retail development offering up to 4,000 square metres of gross leasable area in the retail heart of Forster. The former MidCoast Council site was sold for $12.72 million and features prime positioning directly opposite Stockland Forster shopping centre with high exposure and accessibility. The development includes rear loading facilities and showroom space across a commanding 14,110mý site with B2 Local Centre zoning.
6-12 Head Street Residential Development Site (Golden Sands Motor Inn)
Beachside high-rise residential or hotel development site at the former Golden Sands Motor Inn, with a combined site area of 3373 square metres across four titles and potential gross floor area of up to 14535 square metres. Zoned R4 High Density with a 33-metre height limit allowing up to 11 storeys. The site has two street frontages and is located about 350 metres from Forster Main Beach and the town centre. Following a competitive Expressions of Interest campaign that closed in May 2025, the property was sold in July 2025; the purchaser has not been publicly named and no development application has yet been lodged with MidCoast Council.
Palm Lake Resort Forster Lakes
A luxury over-50s land lease resort featuring 400 Florida Keys-inspired homes with world-class facilities including the award-winning Belleair Country Club, Rhodes Sports Club with championship bowling green, marina with pontoons, indoor/outdoor pools, luxury cinema, gymnasium, and extensive recreational amenities beside Wallis Lake.
5,398 residents of Forster (NSW) are employed, from a labour force of 5,679. Unemployment sits at 4.9%, with participation at 44.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local economy is supported by a diverse workforce divided between professional and trade roles, with a solid representation of essential services and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. As of March 2026, there are 5,398 employed residents, though the jobless rate sits 0.8% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, and participation in the labour force is notably lower at 44.4% compared to the regional benchmark of 60.6%. Census data indicates that a modest 11.2% of the workforce worked from home, though this figure was likely influenced by public health restrictions at the time.
Local employment is largely concentrated in the sectors of health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The medical and social assistance sector shows a strong concentration, with its share of local jobs at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, industries like agriculture, forestry & fishing employ only 1.6% of workers, compared to the regional share of 5.3%. A comparison between the count of working residents and locally situated jobs suggests limited employment opportunities within the immediate area. Based on labor market data, the local workforce size shrunk by 3.3% over the 12 months to March 2026, while the number of employed individuals fell by 4.0%, causing the unemployment rate to climb by 0.7 percentage points. Over the same period, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment, a 0.4% contraction in the labor force, and a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. Long-term national employment projections from May-25 suggest a 6.6% expansion over five years and a 13.7% increase over ten years, though industry trends vary. Projecting these national sectoral trends onto the local industry mix suggests that employment for residents could grow by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Forster (NSW) is $1,009 a week (about $52,000 a year), with median personal income at $581 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $42,027 a year against an average of $55,548. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to tax statistics from the financial year 2023, tax-paying residents of Forster recorded a median income of $42,027 and an average income of $55,548. These figures are below national averages and compare to median and average levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Regional NSW. Applying a Wage Price Index increase of 10.32% since financial year 2023 estimates the median and average incomes at $46,364 and $61,281 as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places local household, family, and individual incomes between the 3rd and 9th national percentiles.
The largest income bracket contains 30.7% of residents (4,458 people) earning between $400 - 799 weekly, which contrasts with the broader region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common at 29.9%. Housing affordability is highly constrained, with residents retaining only 82.5% of their income after housing costs, placing the area in the 4th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Forster (NSW) had 6,253 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 65% detached houses and 18% apartments. 21% are owned with a mortgage, 28% rented and 52% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $340 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 33.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 39.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the time of the latest Census consisted of 64.8% standalone houses and 35.2% alternative housing types, such as townhouses, units, or other dwellings, compared to the Regional NSW breakdown of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in the area was high at 51.7%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (20.8%) or renting (27.6%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,733 matches the Regional NSW average of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $340, compared to $330 regionally.
On a national level, mortgage payments are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Forster (NSW) counted 6,253 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 16% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 35% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 61.9% of households in the area, consisting of 15.8% couples raising children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.5% single-parent households. The remaining 38.1% are non-family households, which are mostly individuals living alone (35.1%) along with group households (3.1%). The median household size is 2.1 people, which is below the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.8% of adults in Forster (NSW) hold a university qualification, including 11.9% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,411 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 963 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region presents opportunities for educational development, as university graduation rates stand at 16.8%, which is below the NSW average of 32.2%. Among those with higher education, bachelor degrees are the most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.8% and graduate diplomas at 2.1%. Technical and practical training is highly prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 10.8% with advanced diplomas and 31.4% holding certificates. A total of 23.2% of the local population is enrolled in some form of study. This cohort includes 8.8% of residents in primary schools, 7.2% in high schools, and 1.6% in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Forster (NSW) reaches 230 stops on 35 routes, timetabled for about 600 services a week. The typical home sits about 120 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local transit network features 230 active bus stops, which are serviced by 35 distinct routes that provide 595 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transport is high, with the average distance to a stop standing at 119 meters. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel for 92% of workers, while 5% walk. The average vehicle ownership rate is 1.1 cars per household, which is lower than the regional average, and 11.2% of residents work from home based on 2021 Census data.
Bus routes average 85 trips daily across the network, which averages out to approximately 2 weekly passenger trips per individual stop. The reference map illustrates the 100 closest stops relative to the center of the area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
55.4% of residents in Forster (NSW) report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 78% of areas nationally. 10.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments indicate notable local challenges based on mortality and chronic illness rates across multiple age groups, with private health insurance coverage extending to roughly 49% of the population (~7,108 people). This coverage rate is lower than the Regional NSW average of 51.9% and the national rate of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 13.8% and 9.4% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 55.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Health challenges are present within the working-age cohort, and 39.9% of the population is aged 65 and over (5,794 people), which is significantly higher than the Regional NSW share of 23.4%.
Health measures for older residents generally align with national averages for their age group.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Forster (NSW) is largely Australian-born, at 87.7% of residents, with 4.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (34.1%) and Australian (30.7%). 4.5% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Demographic data shows lower cultural diversity relative to broader benchmarks, with 87.7% of residents born in Australia, 90.9% holding citizenship, and 96.0% speaking only English at home. The largest religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 60.3% of the community, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. The most common ancestries reported in the area are English (34.1%), Australian (30.7%), and Irish (9.0%). Certain other backgrounds show distinct local patterns, with Australian Aboriginal residents representing 4.5% of the population (compared to 4.6% regionally), Maltese at 0.5% (compared to 0.4% regionally), and French at 0.5% (compared to 0.4% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Forster (NSW) is 57, older than 98% of areas nationally. 15.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 57 years is substantially higher than the Regional NSW median of 43 and the national average of 38. The population shows a high concentration of residents aged 75 - 84 (15.1%), which is significantly above the national level of 6.1%, while the 25 - 34 age group is smaller at 7.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 bracket has increased from 13.3% to 15.1%, while the 55 to 64 bracket has decreased from 14.3% to 13.1%. By 2041, the population aged 85+ is projected to expand by 503 people (62%), rising from 813 to 1,317, whereas the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 brackets are projected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Forster (NSW)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 10 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 573 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (14,187 at the 2021 Census → 14,522 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11553). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.