Moving to Forster NSW 2428
What the official numbers say about living in Forster — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $340 a week, against a median household income of $1,009 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Forster grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (13,116 → 14,187 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Philippines; most spoken languages besides English: Nepali, German, Arabic.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Forster scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 11% work from home.
Nearest airport: Forster (Wallis Island) Airport, 3.9 km west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 223 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 6 schools · 24 cafes & restaurants · 3 supermarkets · 18 parks · 6 beaches — see them all on the Forster profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Forster Public School 1.7 km · Holy Name Primary School 1.8 km · Great Lakes College Forster Campus 2 km · Tuncurry Primary School 4 km · Great Lakes College Tuncurry Campus 4.8 km · Great Lakes College Senior Campus 4.9 km
Groceries: Aldi 350 m · Coles 500 m · Woolworths 600 m
Parks and reserves: Marcel Terry Reserve 450 m · Forster Heights Park 750 m · Boronia Park 850 m · Palm Grove Park 1.2 km · Wyuna Reserve 1.6 km · Elouera Reserve 1.8 km · Bennetts Head Reserve 1.9 km · Dolphin Reserve 2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Forster, most often seen first: Australian Pelican · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Magpie · Scaly-breasted Lorikeet · Australian Wood Duck · Crested Tern.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Forster, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forster here | 14,187 | — | 2/10 | 43% |
| Tuncurry | 6,376 | — | 1/10 | 50% |
| Coomba Park | 691 | — | 1/10 | 44% |
| Black Head | 972 | — | 6/10 | 42% |
| Red Head | 798 | — | 7/10 | 42% |
| Tallwoods Village | 993 | — | 7/10 | 25% |
| Boomerang Beach | 423 | — | 6/10 | 64% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Mid-Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Lyne — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2428 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Forster profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $340 a week.
The population grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 13,116 people to 14,187. It sits about 223 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Mid-Coast council, and the federal seat is Lyne.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Forster vs Tuncurry.
Nearby guides: Tuncurry · Coomba Park · Black Head · Red Head · Tallwoods Village · Boomerang Beach.
Keep an eye on Forster
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