Forster at a glance
Median house
$850,000
+2.8% year on year
Median unit
$590,000
Days on market
42
Average to sell
Walk score
84
Very walkable
Population
14.2k
Median age 57
The brief
What to know about Forster.
The postcode for Forster is 2428 (NSW).
The median house price in Forster is $850,000.
Forster (2428) sits in the Mid-Coast region of NSW. The median house here is $850,000, below the NSW median of around $1.10M. Prices have moved +2.8% over the past year, in line with the NSW average (3%).
Forster has roughly 14,187 residents, with a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are mostly owner-occupied. Day-to-day life here is very walkable, with most errands manageable on foot. Listings here typically sell in 42 days, slower than the NSW average of 32.
Side by side
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Median, growth, schools, walkability, all in one view.
Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Forster scores 84/100 on walkability, which makes it very walkable with limited public transport. Coffee, groceries and a meal out are mostly walking-distance, which keeps a household viable on one car.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 2 government primary, 3 government secondary, 1 Catholic.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Forster's population at 14,187, with a median age of 57. That sits as a retiree-heavy demographic. Households are mostly owner-occupied (68% own, 26% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. The household mix skews family-dominated (62% family households, 35% lone person), so amenity decisions tend to follow what families want: parks, schools, supermarkets.
Population
14,187
Median age
57
Family households
62%
Lone person
35%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Houses change hands at $850,000 on a typical sale, below the NSW median. Units come in around $590,000, roughly 31% below the house median. The 12-month picture is essentially flat performance (+2.8%), so buyers and sellers are negotiating on roughly the same number. Days on market run long (42 days), so well-priced listings still need patience.
For buyers
A 20% deposit on the median house works out to roughly $170,000. Prices are below the NSW median, which keeps Forster on the radar for first-home buyers and right-sizers.
For sellers
Days on market are running long here (42 days), so realistic pricing and patient marketing matter.
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
$850,000
+2.8% over the past year. Median unit price $590,000.
Sales data as of December 2024· sales-abs
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$330/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$340/wk
Owner occupied
68%
Renter occupied
26%
At a deeper level
$850,000
+2.8% annual growth
$590,000
42
Average days to sell
14,187
Median age: 57
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For investors
Investment overview.
Gross rental yield on houses sits at 2.02% (median rent $330/wk against a $850,000 price tag). Units yield 3.00% gross, often the better cash-flow play for first-time investors. Renter share is modest (26%), so the rental pool is smaller and tenant demand can be patchier than in higher-density suburbs.
Gross Yield (House)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 20242.02%
Based on $850,000 median
Gross Yield (Unit)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 20243.00%
Based on $590,000 median
Annual Growth (House)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 2024+2.8%
Year-on-year capital growth
Annual Growth (Unit)
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 2024–
Year-on-year capital growth
Owner Occupancy
Source: ABS Census 2021 · May 202668%
Higher = more owner-occupier demand
Days on Market
Source: ABS Data by Region (SA2-level, 2024) · Dec 202442 days
Lower = higher buyer demand
Gross rental yield is annual rent divided by purchase price, before expenses. It does not account for vacancy rates, management fees, maintenance, or financing costs. Use this as a starting point for further research.
5-year trajectory
at +2.8%/yr
2021
$740K
5-year change
+15%
2026
$850K
Trajectory derived from the current median compounded at the suburb’s annual growth rate, not raw sale-by-sale history.
Safety
Crime and safety.
1,515
total offences in 2025
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Crime data as of January 2025· State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
84
30
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Forster.
Local schools for Forster
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Forster Public School
Tuncurry Public School
Great Lakes College Tuncurry Campus
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently asked
About Forster.
- What is the median house price in Forster?
- The median house price in Forster, NSW 2428 is $850,000. The median unit price is $590,000. Annual growth is +2.8%.
- What is the Forster postcode?
- Forster is in the 2428 postcode, in NSW, in the Mid-Coast Council region.
- Where is Forster?
- Forster is a regional suburb in NSW, postcode 2428, in the Mid-Coast Council region.
- What is the average rent in Forster?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $330, for units it's $340.
- What schools are in Forster?
- There are 6 schools serving Forster on this page, including Holy Name Primary School, Forster Public School, Tuncurry Public School.
- How walkable is Forster?
- Forster has a Walk Score of 84 out of 100, very walkable. transit score 30, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Forster?
- Forster is close to Tuncurry, Forster Shopping Village, Green Point, Coomba Park, Wallis Lake.
- What is the population of Forster?
- The population of Forster is approximately 14,187 (2021 Census). The median age is 57.
For Sale
Forster
Buying
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Surrounding Suburbs
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Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
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