Forestier - Tasman
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Forestier - Tasman's population is approximately 2,888 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 295 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 2,593. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,722 in June 2024 and an additional 130 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 4.4 persons per square kilometer. Forestier - Tasman's growth rate of 11.4% since the 2021 Census exceeds both the state average (4.5%) and the non-metro area, indicating it as a region with significant growth. Interstate migration accounted for approximately 85.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Future projections indicate an overall population decline by 207 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to expand by 172 people.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Forestier - Tasman when compared nationally

Forestier-Tasman has received around 26 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces this data on a financial year basis. Over the past five years, from FY-20 to FY-25, approximately 130 homes were approved. In FY-26, three dwellings have been recorded so far. On average, about 1.6 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-20 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand conditions.

However, this has decreased to 0.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $330,000, in line with regional trends. This year, there have been $1.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Tasmania, Forestier-Tasman has 19.0% less building activity per person but ranks among the 88th percentile nationally, indicating strong developer confidence.

Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 96 people per dwelling approval, Forestier-Tasman exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may be lessened, creating favourable conditions for buyers in the area.

Forestier - Tasman has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

No factors influence an area's performance more than changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that could impact the area. Key projects include Tasmanian Irrigation Schemes: Tranche 3, Cethana Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project, Marinus Link, and Telstra InfraCo Intercity Fibre Network. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment drivers in Forestier - Tasman are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Forestier-Tasman has an unemployment rate of 4.7% as of June 2025, with 994 residents employed. Its unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%, while workforce participation lags at 43.0%.

Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food. The area specializes in arts & recreation with an employment share six times the regional level but has a lower retail trade representation at 4.9% compared to Rest of Tas.'s 10.1%. From June 2024 to June 2025, labour force decreased by 5.0%, employment declined by 6.4%, and unemployment rose by 1.4 percentage points in Forestier-Tasman. In contrast, Rest of Tas.

saw employment fall by 0.5% and labour force contract by 0.6%. By Sep-25, TAS state-level data shows employment growth of 0.77% year-on-year with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, outperforming the national average of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local growth patterns may differ based on industry-specific projections for Forestier-Tasman's employment mix.

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

Forestier-Tasman's median income in financial year 2022 was $38,099. The average income stood at $48,582. These figures are lower than those for Rest of Tas., which were $47,358 and $57,384 respectively. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $42,648 and the average will be around $54,383, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.94%. Census data from 2021 shows that incomes in Forestier-Tasman fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $400-$799 dominates with 35.7% of residents, unlike regional trends where more residents fall within the $1,500-$2,999 range. Economic circumstances indicate financial pressure, with 47.6% of households operating on weekly budgets below $800. Despite modest housing costs, allowing for 88.3% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 4th percentile nationally.

Forestier - Tasman is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Forestier - Tasman's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.3% houses and 3.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 96.9% houses and 3.1% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Forestier - Tasman was 59.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.5% and rented dwellings at 14.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,083, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $250. Nationally, Forestier - Tasman's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Forestier - Tasman features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 59.8% of all households, including 14.8% that are couples with children, 36.1% that are couples without children, and 8.1% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 40.2%, with lone person households at 37.9% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.0 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Tas.

Forestier - Tasman faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

In the region of Forestier-Tasman, as of 2021, 21.1% of residents aged 15 and above held university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials were also prevalent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 28.7%. In total, 22.0% of the population was actively pursuing formal education in 2021.

This included 7.8% in primary education, 6.9% in secondary education, and 2.3% in tertiary education. Tasman District School served the local educational needs within Forestier-Tasman, with an enrollment of 155 students as of 2021. The region demonstrated varied educational conditions across its schools. All one school offered integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Forestier - Tasman is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Forestier-Tasman faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. The region has a low private health cover rate of approximately 46% (~1,325 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 15.5% of residents) and mental health issues (impacting 10.9%). Conversely, 55.5% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the Rest of Tas. average of 56.9%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 37.0% (~1,068 people). Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Forestier-Tasman are better than average, outperforming general population metrics.

Forestier - Tasman is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Forestier-Tasman was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.0% of its population being citizens and 85.7% born in Australia. The majority spoke English only at home, comprising 96.9%. Christianity was the main religion, making up 40.4% of Forestier-Tasman's population.

However, the most notable overrepresentation was in Other religions, which comprised 0.6% compared to Rest of Tas.'s 0.5%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (34.0%), Australian (31.0%), and Irish (8.3%). Notably, Welsh (0.9%) and Dutch (1.4%) were slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.7% and 1.3%, respectively. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal ancestry was also more prevalent at 4.4% compared to the region's average of 3.5%.

Forestier - Tasman ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Forestier-Tasman has a median age of 57, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Tasmania's figure of 45 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Tasmania, Forestier-Tasman has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (22.2%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (5.6%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 9.2% to 12.4%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 6.8% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 22.0% to 19.1%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 6.7% to 5.6%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Forestier-Tasman's age structure. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 221%, adding 155 residents to reach a total of 226. This growth is driven entirely by the aging of the population, with residents aged 65 and older representing all anticipated growth. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.