# Forresters Beach

Suburb / Locality · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Greater Sydney › Central Coast › 2260, NSW

Area: 3 km²

A coastal pocket of the Central Coast, Forresters Beach is a residential area where nearly 26% of residents are seniors. This is a place of larger homes and family life, with many households containing children and a typical age that is noticeably older than the national figure. With high rates of home ownership and a professional workforce, it feels like a stable, established community situated within the Greater Sydney region.

## Demographics & Identity

The community is noticeably older than the state and national averages, with a typical age of 44 and a much higher proportion of seniors. Around 19.1% of residents are children under 15, which is about the same as the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 3,354 | +34.4% since 2011 |
| Median age | 44 yrs | +12.8% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 3.0% | +27.4% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 25.7% | +99.8% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 19.1% | -8.8% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 9.5% | +7.5% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Seniors (65+) 25.7%, Older adults (45–64) 24.2%, Young adults (25–44) 20.9%, Children (0–14) 19.1%, Youth (15–24) 10.3%

**Marital status** — Married 56.0%, Never married 26.9%, Divorced 8.4%, Widowed 6.1%, Separated 2.7%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

English and Australian ancestries are the most common, making up 46% and 39.8% of the population. While 14.4% of people were born overseas, this is far below the national rate of 27.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 14.4% | +20.8% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 81.5%, England 5.2%, New Zealand 1.3%, South Africa 0.7%, China 0.3%, India 0.3%, Italy 0.3%

**Ancestry** — English 46.0%, Australian 39.8%, Irish 15.8%, Scottish 11.4%, German 3.5%, Italian 2.7%, Dutch 2.0%, Chinese 1.3%, Greek 1.3%, Indian 0.5%

## Language

English is the dominant language, spoken by 91.6% of residents. Only 4.4% of people use another language at home, which is far below the New South Wales figure of 26.6%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 4.4% | +16.8% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.4% | +3.8% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 91.6%, Greek 0.4%, Italian 0.4%, Mandarin 0.3%, Arabic 0.3%, Cantonese 0.1%

## Religion

More than half of the population identifies as Christian, while 40.6% of residents report having no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is a little above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 40.6% | +86.4% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — Christianity 52.2%, No religion 40.6%, Not stated 5.5%, Buddhism 0.7%, Islam 0.3%, Other religions 0.3%, Hinduism 0.1%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

The area is well-qualified, with 23.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Most people have completed Year 12, and qualifications are often in management, commerce, or health.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 56.0% | +13.3% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 23.9% | +32.6% since 2011 |
| Schools within 3 km | 6 | — |
| Average school size | 522 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 996 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 56.0%, Year 10 25.7%, Year 9 or below 8.3%, Year 11 5.4%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 29.8%, Bachelor degree 24.1%, Advanced diploma / diploma 17.6%, Postgraduate degree 7.7%, Graduate diploma / certificate 4.1%, Certificate I / II 1.8%

**Field of qualification** — Management & commerce 20.4%, Engineering & related 13.1%, Health 13.1%, Education 10.8%, Society & culture 9.8%, Architecture & building 9.1%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.8%, Creative arts 3.5%, Natural & physical sciences 2.6%, Agriculture & environment 1.8%, Information technology 1.6%

## Income

Household incomes are higher than most similar areas, with a typical weekly family income of $2,206. This is consistent with the fact that 13.4% of individuals earn $2,000 or more per week.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $819 | +29.8% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,758 | +19.5% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,206 | +40.7% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 13.4% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 24.8% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 27.9%, $650–$1,499 27.7%, Under $650 14.7%, $4,000 or more 12.6%, $3,000–$3,999 12.3%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 38.2%, $650–$1,499 32.2%, $1,500–$2,999 20.4%, $3,000 or more 5.0%

## Health & Disability

About 29.6% of residents have a long-term health condition, which is a little above the national figure. Arthritis and asthma are the most commonly reported conditions.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 29.6% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 7.2% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 4.4% | +57.5% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 10.8%, Asthma 8.3%, Mental health 7.2%, Other condition 7.0%, Cancer 4.5%, Heart disease 4.3%, Diabetes 3.3%, Lung condition 1.9%, Stroke 1.0%, Dementia 0.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 64.3%, One condition 21.2%, Two conditions 5.5%, Three or more 3.2%

## Community Participation

Unpaid care is common here, with 28.4% of people caring for children and 27.4% doing significant housework. Both figures are well above the state and national averages.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 15.0% | -21.5% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 12.8% | +11.3% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 28.4% | -14.1% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.1% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 27.4% | +5.9% since 2011 |

## First Nations

First Nations people make up 3% of the population and experience very high outcomes, including an unemployment rate of 0.0% and a typical personal income well above the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 101 | — |
| First Nations median age | 20 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 44.4% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 0.0% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $784 | — |
| First Nations household income | $2,349 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 5.9% | — |

## Family & Households

Families with children make up 57.9% of households, and homes are generally larger than average, typically holding 2.6 people.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.6 | -7.1% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 10.8% | -17.3% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 23.1% | +46.6% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 57.9%, Couples without children 30.4%, One-parent families 10.8%, Other families 0.7%

**Household size** — 2 people 35.7%, 1 person 23.1%, 4 people 17.7%, 3 people 13.7%, 5 people 7.7%, 6 or more 2.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

Detached houses are far more common here than in the state average, with 79.8% of homes being separate houses. While 35.5% are owned outright, those with mortgages pay a typical monthly amount of $2,171, which is much higher than most areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $470 | +42.4% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $2,171 | +4.4% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 14.8% | -28.9% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 35.5% | +9.6% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 79.8% | -14.0% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 75.5% | -9.5% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 36.3%, Owned outright 35.5%, Rented 14.8%, Other tenure 12.8%, Not stated 1.2%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 79.8%, Townhouse / semi-detached 18.2%, Flat or apartment 1.3%

**Bedrooms per home** — 4 bedrooms 33.0%, 3 bedrooms 27.9%, 2 bedrooms 21.3%, 5 or more 14.6%, 1 bedroom 2.3%, Studio / none 0.3%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $350–$549 49.7%, $550–$749 27.3%, $200–$349 14.8%, $750 or more 7.1%, Under $200 4.4%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 34.7%, $3,000 or more 28.9%, $1,000–$1,799 22.9%, Under $1,000 10.4%

## Transport & Vehicles

Most people rely on cars, though 28.8% of the workforce works from home. Despite this, the area has a high number of public transport stops and very short walk times to the nearest one.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 2.1% | -33.7% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 28.8% | +511.0% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.3% | -87.1% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 29 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 8.65 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 1,296.1 | — |
| Public transport routes | 9 | — |
| Walk to nearest stop (min) | 1 | — |
| Drive time to the city (min) | 67 | — |
| People reachable in 30 min by transit | 22,825 | — |
| People reachable in 45 min by transit | 33,500 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 48.9%, Worked at home 28.8%, Car (passenger) 3.1%, Walked 0.8%, Bus 0.3%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 40.6%, 1 vehicle 35.5%, 3 vehicles 13.2%, 4 or more 7.9%, No vehicle 2.1%

## Migration & Movement

The area has seen some movement, with 36.4% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are far below the national figure at just 2.7%.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 36.4% | +13.4% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 2.7% | -73.4% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

Health care, construction, and education are the main industries for local workers. The number of people employed full-time is well below the national average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | -32.8% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 57.7% | -13.5% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 51.6% | -12.3% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Health care & social assistance 19.1%, Construction 12.5%, Education & training 11.3%, Retail trade 8.7%, Accommodation & food 7.3%, Professional & technical 6.8%, Public administration & safety 6.5%, Manufacturing 5.0%, Other services 3.4%, Administrative & support 3.1%, Finance & insurance 3.0%, Transport & warehousing 2.3%, Rental & real estate 2.0%, Media & telecommunications 1.6%, Arts & recreation 1.5%, Wholesale trade 1.5%, Electricity, gas & water 0.9%, Mining 0.8%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.4%

**Occupations people work in** — Professionals 26.2%, Technicians & trades 15.0%, Managers 14.7%, Clerical & administrative 13.7%, Community & personal service 12.8%, Sales workers 7.3%, Labourers 5.6%, Machinery operators & drivers 3.8%

## Walkability

Residents enjoy great access to parks, health services, and groceries within a 15-minute walk. However, almost no one lives within a 15-minute walk of a school, which is far below the state average.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 5.2 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 4.4 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 78.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 80.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 93.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 3.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 95.3% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 80.0% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 13.1 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 36 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 9.6% | — |

## Schools serving Forresters Beach

6 schools, 3,133 students, average ICSEA 996.

By sector: Government 5, Independent 1

By type: Primary 4, Secondary 2

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bateau Bay Public School | Government | Primary | 1.9 km | 614 |
| Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus | Government | Secondary | 2.1 km | 802 |
| Wamberal Public School | Government | Primary | 2.1 km | 475 |
| The Central Coast Montessori Primary School | Independent | Primary | 3.5 km | 66 |
| Brooke Avenue Public School | Government | Primary | 3.6 km | 420 |
| Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College The Entrance Campus | Government | Secondary | 4.2 km | 756 |

## Nearby areas

[Bateau Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL10227/bateau-bay) · [Wamberal](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL14140/wamberal) · [Matcham](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL12530/matcham) · [Killarney Vale](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL12139/killarney-vale) · [Shelly Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13550/shelly-beach) · [Tumbi Umbi](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13980/tumbi-umbi) · [Toowoon Bay](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13934/toowoon-bay) · [Terrigal](https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL13820/terrigal)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sal/SAL11552/forresters-beach