Moving to Forrest Beach QLD 4850
What the official numbers say about living in Forrest Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $240 a week, against a median household income of $935 a week.
About 76% of homes are owner-occupied and 23% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Forrest Beach grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,233 → 1,364 people).
Around 63% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Italy; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Italian, Australian Indigenous.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Forrest Beach scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (89% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest airport: Ingham Airport, 16.1 km west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1193 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school — see them all on the Forrest Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Forrest Beach State School 1000 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Forrest Beach, most often seen first: Masked Lapwing · Southern Willie Wagtail · Comb-crested Jacana · Magpie Goose · Australian White Ibis · Rainbow Bee-eater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Forrest Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest Beach here | 1,364 | — | 2/10 | 26% |
| Ingham | 4,455 | — | 1/10 | 12% |
| Palm Island | 2,138 | — | 1/10 | 65% |
| Balgal Beach | 998 | — | 1/10 | 36% |
| Cardwell | 1,320 | — | 1/10 | 63% |
| Bluewater | 1,085 | — | 4/10 | 41% |
| Bushland Beach | 6,641 | — | 7/10 | 31% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Hinchinbrook — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Kennedy — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4850 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Forrest Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $240 a week, and about 23% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 11% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,233 people to 1,364. It sits about 1193 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Hinchinbrook council, and the federal seat is Kennedy.
Weighing up alternatives?
Nearby guides: Ingham · Palm Island · Balgal Beach · Cardwell · Bluewater · Bushland Beach.
Keep an eye on Forrest Beach
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