Moving to Forbes NSW 2871
What the official numbers say about living in Forbes — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $230 a week, against a median household income of $1,221 a week.
About 69% of homes are owner-occupied and 29% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Forbes grew 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,475 → 8,157 people).
Around 65% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, India; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, Cantonese, Gujarati.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Forbes scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (86% of workers), while 9% work from home.
Nearest train station: Forbes Railway Station, 600 m east.
Nearest airport: Forbes Airport, 7.5 km west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 302 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 4 schools · 8 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 31 parks — see them all on the Forbes profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Laurence's Parish School 300 m · Forbes Public School 850 m · Forbes North Public School 1.2 km · Forbes High School 1.8 km
Groceries: Woolworths 550 m · Bernardi's Supa IGA and Liquor 700 m
Parks and reserves: King George V Memorial Park 300 m · Bridgette Duckworth Park 300 m · Crippen Park 500 m · Nelson Park 500 m · Stephan Field 500 m · Albion Park 550 m · Tintuppa Park 550 m · Gaggin Oval 700 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Forbes, most often seen first: Pacific Black Duck · Grey Teal · Rock Dove · Pink-eared Duck · Dusky Moorhen · Eurasian Coot.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Forbes, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes here | 8,157 | — | 3/10 | 5% |
| Parkes | 11,324 | — | 2/10 | 10% |
| Eugowra | 862 | — | 2/10 | 11% |
| Trundle | 568 | — | 3/10 | 11% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Forbes — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Riverina — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2871 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Forbes profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $230 a week, and about 29% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 9% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,475 people to 8,157. It sits about 302 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Forbes Railway Station station is roughly 0.6 km away. Local government is Forbes council, and the federal seat is Riverina.
Weighing up alternatives?
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