Forster
NSW 2428 · Mid-Coast
14,187 (2021) → 14,534 est. (2025) · Stable
Part of the Mid-Coast local government area (est. 99,351 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Forster is a stable suburb in Mid-Coast, NSW 2428, about 221km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $879K is more affordable than the NSW average. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 0/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Forster has an overall score of 35/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 28/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2428 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (3.19%), New Zealand (1.24%), Philippines (0.51%), Scotland (0.48%), Germany (0.43%)
Top languages: Nepali (0.35%), German (0.27%), Arabic (0.2%), French (0.18%), Italian (0.18%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 959 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Holy Name Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1014
- Great Lakes College Forster CampusSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 936
- Forster Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 934
Nearby (within 10km)
- Alesco Secondary College - Coast CampusSecondary · Independent · 5.6km
- Margaret Jurd College Tuncurry CampusSecondary · Independent · 6.1km
- Tuncurry Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.5kmICSEA 930
- Great Lakes College Tuncurry CampusSecondary · Government · 7.4kmICSEA 949
- Great Lakes College Senior CampusSecondary · Government · 7.5kmICSEA 988
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Few fitness options
Very few fitness facilities in and around this suburb.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Mostly urban
Very little parkland or outdoor recreation in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Few cultural venues
Very few cultural venues in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Limited options
Below average for childcare access — fewer services nearby, and families may need to travel further for preferred options.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
StableSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Mid-Coast
Compare Forster with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Forster
Is Forster safe?
Forster has a residential safety score of 28/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 8,649 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Forster?
In Forster, the median house price is $879K and the median unit price is $645K. Median weekly house rent is $650.
How far is Forster from Sydney CBD?
Forster is about 221.4 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Forster?
Forster has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 961 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Forster?
Forster has a transport score of 0/100.