Urban Centre · Area profile
Forster - Tuncurry
33 km²
A coastal setting defines Forster - Tuncurry, a community that has seen its population grow by 892% since 2011. It is now a predominantly older area where the typical resident is 59, and over 40% of people are aged 65 or over. This shift toward a senior population is reflected in the high number of people living alone and a significant increase in those needing help with daily activities. It is a place where many own their homes outright, creating a stable but aging residential character.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 59 and a high proportion of seniors. While the population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a little above the national figure at 6.0%, the number of children under 15 has fallen sharply since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 11.2% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, accounting for 44.8% and 41.6% respectively.
English is the main language for 90.2% of residents. Only 3.7% of people use another language at home, which is far below the state and national figures.
Christianity is the most common religion at 57.0%. Those with no religion make up 33.9% of the community, a figure that has risen since 2011 and is well below the national average.
Education levels are lower than in most similar areas, with only 11.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Incomes are much lower than the national figure, with typical weekly household income at $956. Only 7.5% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is far below the state average.
Health challenges are common here, with 42.6% of people living with a long-term health condition, far above the national figure. This is consistent with the aging population, as 11.2% of residents need help with daily activities.
A higher than average 4.4% of residents have served in the Defence Force. While 14.5% of people volunteer, the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen significantly since 2011.
Homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.0 people per home. This is driven by a high number of people living alone—36.9%—which is far above the national figure.
Home ownership is strong, with 49.5% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure. However, the typical weekly rent has risen by $70 since 2016 to reach $330.
Cars are the primary way to get around, with 64.3% of people driving to work. Very few people use public transport for commuting, at just 0.4%.
The area is quite mobile, with 38.9% of people moving in the last five years. However, the proportion of recent arrivals from overseas has fallen since 2011.
Far fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the rest of the country, at 39.5%. The health care and social assistance industry is the largest employer, accounting for 21.1% of jobs.
The area is somewhat walkable, and nearly all homes—96.9%—are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, fewer homes are within walking distance of schools or groceries compared to the state average.