Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Forster
33 km²
A significant number of people have moved into Forster since 2011, contributing to a large population of over 14,000 residents. This is a notably older community where the typical resident is 57, and nearly 40% of people are seniors. This demographic shift helps explain the high need for health services and the prevalence of people living alone. Overall, the town is a predominantly Australian-born settlement with a strong presence of First Nations people.
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Forster is far older than the state and national average, with 38.3% of its people aged 65 and over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 13.0%, which is well below the national figure of 18.2%.
The community is predominantly Australian-born, with 81.8% born here. Those born overseas make up 11.4% of the population, which is far below the New South Wales average of 29.3%.
English is the primary language for 90.1% of residents. Only 3.8% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the 22.3% national average.
More than half of the population (55.7%) identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 35.1%, which is a little above the New South Wales average.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 35.7% of residents completing Year 12. This is far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are much lower than the state and national averages. The typical weekly household income is $1,009, which is far below the New South Wales figure of $1,829.
Health needs are high here; 40.7% of people have a long-term health condition, far above the national average of 27.7%. This is consistent with the area's older population, as 10.1% of residents need help with daily activities.
A higher number of residents have served in the Defence Force (4.2%) compared to most areas. Volunteer rates are also a little above the national figure at 15.5%.
First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, with 890 residents. Typical personal income for First Nations people is $510 a week, which is a little below the national figure of $540.
Homes tend to be small, with only 2.1 people per home. There is a high proportion of people living alone (35.1%), which is far above the state average of 25.0%.
Home ownership is strong, with 48.7% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Typical weekly rent is $340, which is a little below the national average.
Most people rely on cars, as only 0.4% commute by public transport. While the area has many bus stops, it is a long walk to the nearest one, taking about 31 minutes on average.
The population is quite mobile, with 39.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 10.4% of the community.
The workforce is much smaller than in other areas, with only 41.2% of adults working or looking for work. Many of those employed work in health care and social assistance.
The area is somewhat walkable, and 96.6% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, access to groceries and health services is far below the state average.