Overall score
Forresters Beach
57.5/100
Terrigal
52.5/100
Forresters Beach for families and investment.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Forresters Beach
57.5/100
Terrigal
52.5/100
Crime rate
Forresters Beach
35.3 / 1k
Terrigal
35.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Forresters Beach
47
Terrigal
203
Population
Forresters Beach
3,354
Terrigal
12,730
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Forresters Beach | Terrigal |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 57.5/100 | 52.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 48.8/100 | 37.7/100 |
| Crime rate | 35.3 / 1k | 35.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 4 |
| Parks & reserves | 4 | 8 |
| Public transport stops | 62 | 156 |
| Walkability | 74.0/100 | 34.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 47 | 203 |
| Planning activity | 16 | 44 |
| Population | 3,354 | 12,730 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Forresters Beach is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Terrigal is a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Forresters Beach pulls ahead on housing affordability and walkability, whereas Terrigal is the better pick for parks and reserves and public transport access.
Families and investors may find Forresters Beach the better fit, while households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Terrigal.