Forster (NSW)

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

The population of Forster (NSW) is estimated at approximately 14,468 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 281 people since the Census in 2021, which reported a population of 14,187. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 14,368 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 573 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 444 persons per square kilometer. Forster's growth rate of 2.0% since the census is within 0.8 percentage points of the SA3 area's growth rate of 2.8%. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 69.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase its population by approximately 1,783 persons to reach a total of around 16,251 by 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 11.6% over the 17-year period.

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

Forster has averaged approximately 116 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 582 homes. As of FY-26, 27 approvals have been recorded. On average, Forster has seen 0.2 people moving to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. This indicates that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing buyers with more options and potentially enabling population growth beyond current expectations.

The average expected construction cost value of new properties is $781,000, suggesting developers are targeting the premium market segment. In FY-26, there have been $21.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of NSW, Forster has shown moderately higher new home approvals, with 35.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. The current mix of building activity shows 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% townhouses or apartments, providing options across different price points. Forster has approximately 86 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts estimate Forster will gain 1,681 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Forster has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Forster Tuncurry Health Facility (part of the Lower Mid North Coast Health Service Project), the new ambulance stations in Forster and Old Bar, the Forster Gateway Development - The Lakes Way, and the Forster Main Beach Masterplan. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant:.

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 has a balanced workforce with representation from both white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include essential services, with an unemployment rate of 4.5% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 5602 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Forster lags behind at 47.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 11.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Forster shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.6% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.4%, while employment declined by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. Rest of NSW recorded an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Forster. Applying these projections to Forster's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 30, 2023, Forster had a median income among taxpayers of $42,027 and an average income of $55,548. Both figures were below the national averages of $61,905 (median) and $71,316 (average). Compared to Rest of NSW, Forster's incomes were lower, with median and average incomes of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year ended June 30, 2023, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $45,751 (median) and $60,470 (average). Data from the 2021 Census showed Forster's household, family, and personal incomes fell between the 3rd and 9th percentiles nationally. Income distribution analysis revealed that 30.7% of locals (4,441 people) earned between $400 - $799, differing from Rest of NSW where 29.9% earned between $1,500 - $2,999. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Forster, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 64.8% houses and 35.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Forster was 51.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.8% and rented dwellings at 27.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forster was $1,733, matching Non-Metro NSW's average. Median weekly rent in Forster was $340, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Forster's median monthly mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Forster's median weekly rents were also lower at $340 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households compose 61.9% of all households, including 15.8% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.1%, with lone person households at 35.1% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, 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 16.8%, 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 at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 31.4%.

Currently, 23.2% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 7.2% 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 230 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 35 different routes that together facilitate 595 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 119 meters from the nearest stop. Forster is predominantly residential, and most residents commute outward using their cars, which remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%. Five percent of residents walk to their destinations. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling in Forster, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.2% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 85 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately two weekly trips per individual stop. An accompanying map displays the locations of the 100 nearest stops to the centrepoint of Forster.

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 based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of Forster's total population (~7,082 people), compared to 51.9% in the rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (13.8%) and mental health issues (9.4%). Conversely, 55.4% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in the rest of NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Forster has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 39.2%, with 5,671 people, compared to 23.4% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for 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 shows low cultural diversity, with 87.7% born in Australia and 90.9% being citizens. English is the primary language spoken at home by 96.0%. Christianity dominates Forster's religious landscape at 60.3%, slightly higher than the Rest of NSW average of 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (34.1%), Australian (30.7%), and Irish (9.0%). Notable differences exist in the representation of certain ethnicities, such as Australian Aboriginal (4.5% vs regional 4.6%), Maltese (0.5% vs 0.4%), and French (0.5% vs 0.4%).

Forster ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Forster is 57 years, which is significantly higher than the average for Rest of NSW at 43 years and substantially exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Rest of NSW, Forster has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (14.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.4%). This concentration of 75-84 year-olds is well above the national average of 6.1%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the percentage of Forster's population in the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.3% to 14.8%, while the percentage of residents aged 55 to 64 has declined from 14.3% to 12.8%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Forster's age structure. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to increase markedly by 503 people (64%), from 781 to 1,285. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 age group and the 15 to 24 age group are projected to see reduced numbers.