Median house price
$1.56M
-1.6% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Forresters Beach, 2260
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,177
Growth (1 yr)
+0.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.4%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,758/wk
Employment rate
55.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,565,000
Languages at home
4.6%non-English
Most common: Greek, Afrikaans, Russian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Life in Forresters Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. City outings and nearby suburbs add variety without undoing the coastal pace of everyday life. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Daily life works well on foot, with buses also serving the suburb. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Occasional new builds add variety while most of the suburb keeps its established look.
Community and employment, plus safety push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as growth momentum, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities look more ordinary among similar coastal suburbs.
At a glance
Forresters Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$800/wk
Houses $875 · Units $690
Population (ERP)
3,177
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.8%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#20
among Coastal & beach · Established
Safety
14th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
39th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
60th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 57.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 18% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1281st in Australia
- State rank
- 377th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #20 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #37 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $690
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $875
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $800
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 185
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,565,000
- Median price change
- -1.6%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
3,177(June 2025)
+0.1% annual · +2.4% over 5 years · 39th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.1%
- 5-year growth
- +2.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +2
- Change in 5 years
- +75
- Growth rank in NSW
- 39th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~3,350), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,354
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,758
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 106 of 1,351
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,171
- Employment rate
- 55.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 990 / 226 / 16
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 112
- Against the person
- 40
- Against property
- 46
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 35.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 84 residents
- State safety percentile
- 13.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -0.6%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud99
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment112
- Malicious Damage To Property98
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault84
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,029
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 60th
School list
- Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi CampusSecondary · Government · ICSEA 972 · 34th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 802 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Wamberal Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1048 · 68th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 475 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Bateau Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1029 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 614 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
62 public transport stops in this suburb
- Central Coast Hwy After Bellevue Rd
- Central Coast Hwy At Crystal St
- Central Coast Hwy Before Maas Pde
- Kalakau Av At Boos Rd
- Kalakau Av Opp Henrys Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
47 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 bakeries · 2 playgrounds · 5 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 62 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 8 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 74/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.6
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.6
Food & drink(2)
- Brown Sugar BakeryBakery
- Pizza Box @ForriesFast food
Shopping(3)
- Ampol FoodaryConvenience store
- Forresters Friendly GrocerSupermarket
22 Forresters Beach Road
Health & services(1)
- Forresters Beach PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Albatross ParkPark
- Archibold ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (5)
Entertainment(3)
- Viewpoint (2)
- Wyrrabalong LookoutViewpoint
Transport(18)
18 bus stops
Other(9)
- Forresters Beach ResortHotel
- Pacific View Street ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (3)
- Ampol FoodaryPetrol station
- Picnic Table
- Post Box
- Public Toilet Forresters BeachPublic toilets
- Forresters Beach Retirement VillageSocial Facility
- Telephone
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Albatross ParkPark
- Archibold ParkPark
- Lavinia Street ReserveNature reserve
- Pacific View Street ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Long Jetty Healthcare Centre (4.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Forresters Beach PharmacyPharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 75
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.6
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 26° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 386 mm · ~48 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 394 mm · ~49 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 266 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 253 mm · ~32 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 16 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure49 LOWANNA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision15 FORRESTERS BEACH ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 YUMBOOL CLOSE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool40 HOPETOUN STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 YAKALOO CRESCENT FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shipping containers; Supporting Development25 FORRESTERS BEACH ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Rejected
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 HOPETOUN STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool2 PACIFIC VIEW STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
February 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Swimming pool11 LAVINIA STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure29 LOWANNA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure32 ALISTAIR AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 NORTH SCENIC ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space65 BOOS ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Swimming pool50 HOPETOUN STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45 MALKANA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool1C HOPETOUN STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Swimming pool1B HOPETOUN STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 MALKANA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
November 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure41 MALKANA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure27 BOOS ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Entertainment associated with existing premises; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (external)19 SOUTH SCENIC ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool9 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 PACIFIC VIEW STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool23 SPOON BAY ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport97 MISTVIEW CIRCUIT FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
September 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 YUMBOOL CLOSE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 NORTH SCENIC ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)44 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Under Assessment
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 BOOS ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 SOUTH SCENIC ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 LAVINIA STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers13 MALKANA AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure27 BOOS ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool32 LAVINIA STREET FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport97 MISTVIEW CIRCUIT FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 KALAKAU AVENUE FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)3 SOUTH SCENIC ROAD FORRESTERS BEACH 2260Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.3 km away).
Coalition 43.3%Labor 56.7%
2.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Wamberal NorthLabor 57.5% · Coalition 42.5% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Forresters BeachLabor 51.6% · Coalition 48.4% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Bateau Bay EastLabor 60.4% · Coalition 39.6% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Wamberal (Dobell)Labor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Bateau Bay CentralLabor 50.2% · Coalition 49.8% TPP (2025)3.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.