Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Forster suburb profile
Forster, NSW · Postcode 2428
This Forster suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Forster, NSW (postcode 2428). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Forster with nearby suburbs.
Forster at a glance
Population
14,187
Median rent
$340/wk
Household income
$1,009/wk
Median age
57
Forster trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+8.2% over 10 years
Population
14,187
was 13,740 in 2016
+447 · +3.3%
Median rent
$340/wk
was $280/wk in 2016
+$60 · +21.4%
Household income
$1,009/wk
was $868/wk in 2016
+$141 · +16.2%
Median age
57
was 54 in 2016
+3 · +5.6%
Dig deeper: Forster population growth · Forster then and now
Forster vs nearby & NSW
Median Census 2021 figures for Forster, nearby suburbs (8), and the NSW state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-19% vs area
- Forster$340/wk
- Nearby$325/wk
- NSW$420/wk
Household income
-45.3% vs area
- Forster$1,009/wk
- Nearby$1,036.5/wk
- NSW$1,843/wk
Median age
+42.5% vs area
- Forster57
- Nearby52
- NSW40
Personal income
-28.1% vs area
- Forster$581/wk
- Nearby$560.5/wk
- NSW$808/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in NSW.
Socio-economic profile
How Forster compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Forster sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources and lower education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 2951.2
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 2919.7
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 2956.2
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 2909.9
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Forster on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Forster, NSW.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Forster people
- Population
- 14,187
- Median age
- 57
- Born overseas
- 11.4%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Forster income
- Median household income
- $1,009/wk
- Median personal income
- $581/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Forster housing
- Median rent
- $340/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,733/mo
- Separate houses
- 51.9%
- Flats & apartments
- 14.4%
- Owned outright
- 39.1%
- Mortgaged
- 15.7%
- Rented
- 21.1%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 19.7%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Forster work
- Employment to population
- 39.2%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.9%
- Year 12 or above
- 35.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2428)
Compare Forster with nearby suburbs
Forster in numbers
Forster had 14,187 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 93rd most populous suburb or locality in NSW out of 4,347. The median age is 57, 39% above the typical NSW suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 11.4% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 39.1% own their home outright, 15.7% are paying a mortgage, 21.1% rent. Separate houses make up 51.9% of dwellings, with 14.4% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $340/wk, 15% below the typical NSW suburb.
Median household income was $1,009/wk, 44% below the typical NSW suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.9%. 35.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 2 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 3.3% (from 13,740 to 14,187). Median rent moved from $280/wk to $340/wk (+21.4%).
Forster suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Forster, NSW?
- The median weekly rent in Forster was $340/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Forster, NSW?
- Forster had 14,187 residents at the 2021 Census, up 3.3% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Forster?
- Median household income in Forster was $1,009/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Forster?
- 21.1% of occupied homes in Forster were rented, 39.1% were owned outright and 15.7% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Forster suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Forster (NSW). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology