New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Forest Reefs NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Forest Reefs, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Forest Reefs NSW is 537 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Forest Reefs is $891 per week ($46,332 per year). Median rent in Forest Reefs is $325 per week ($1,408 per month). Forest Reefs has a median age of 43 years, older than the national median of 38. Forest Reefs has a population density of 8.1 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Forest Reefs is England. The most common religion is No Religion (29% of residents). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forest Reefs is $2,174.

There were 5 recorded offences in Forest Reefs in 2025-26, a rate of 9 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (1 offences).

Forest Reefs Map

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Forest Reefs Population

residents (Census 2021)

Forest Reefs Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$891/wk

$46,332 per year

#2232 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$325/wk

$1,408 per month

#3947 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

43years

5 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,174/mo

Avg household size: 2.9 · 0.8 per bedroom

Forest Reefs Demographics

Gender Split

Male 51.7% (278) Female 48.3% (260)

Population Density

8.1

people per km²

537 people · 66.1 km²

Households

2.9

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$2,750

Family income/wk

Forest Reefs Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Forest Reefs Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

44.7% 63 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

55.3% 78 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Forest Reefs Country of Birth

Australia

98.4%

England

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Forest Reefs Religion

No Religion

29.1%

Anglican

25.1%

Catholic

19.2%

Uniting Church

10.3%

Not stated

9.9%

Christian (other)

2.4%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

2.2%

Othr Protestnt

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Forest Reefs Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

58.5%

Year 10 or equivalent

31.5%

Year 11 or equivalent

7.4%

Year 9 or equivalent

2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Forest Reefs Employment

💼

Employed full-time

45.6% 167 people

⏰

Employed part-time

22.1% 81 people

🔍

Unemployed

1.6% 6 people

🏠

Not in labour force

30.6% 112 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Forest Reefs Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

34.1%

Certificate III/IV

31.9%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.8%

Certificate I/II

5.7%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.2%

Postgraduate Degree

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Forest Reefs Occupation

Professionals

27.9%

Managers

23.4%

Technicians & Trade Workers

21.4%

Clerical & Administrative

10.9%

Community & Personal Service

7.5%

Labourers

4.5%

Sales Workers

3.0%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Forest Reefs Field of Study

Engineering

23.9%

Health

18.1%

Management & Commerce

14.9%

Society & Culture

13.3%

Education

11.7%

Natural & Physical Sciences

5.9%

Architecture & Building

4.3%

Agriculture & Environment

3.2%

Information Technology

1.6%

Creative Arts

1.6%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Forest Reefs Dwelling Types

Separate house

100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Forest Reefs Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

5.8%

$1-$149/wk

2.6%

$400-$499/wk

1.9%

$500-$649/wk

3.2%

$650-$799/wk

5.8%

$800-$999/wk

1.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

3.9%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

1.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

9.0%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

11.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

7.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

8.4%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

9.0%

$4,000+/wk

19.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Forest Reefs Marital Status

💍

Married

60.0% 253

↔️

Separated

3.1% 13

📋

Divorced

5.9% 25

🕊️

Widowed

3.3% 14

👤

Never married

27.7% 117

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Forest Reefs Ancestry

English

36.5%

Australian

33.7%

Irish

10.0%

Scottish

9.6%

German

2.8%

Aboriginal Australianralian

2.1%

Other

2.1%

New Zealander

1.0%

Chinese

0.7%

Welsh

0.7%

Dutch

0.4%

Greek

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Forest Reefs School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

30.6%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

16.1%

Secondary — Catholic

12.9%

Secondary — Government

12.1%

Vocational Education

9.7%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

8.9%

Pre-school

5.6%

Primary — Catholic

4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Forest Reefs Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

3.4% 34

✅

No need for assistance

96.6% 955

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Forest Reefs Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

28.0% 106

—

Not a volunteer

72.0% 272

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Forest Reefs Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

4.5%

$800-$999/mo

6.1%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

10.6%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

6.1%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

33.3%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

22.7%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

16.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Forest Reefs How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

75.6%

Did not go to work

12.4%

Walked only

5.5%

Car (passenger)

3.0%

Truck

2.0%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Forest Reefs Car Ownership

1 vehicle

13.3%

2 vehicles

47.5%

3 vehicles

20.9%

4+ vehicles

18.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Forest Reefs Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

3.6%

2 bedrooms

6.6%

3 bedrooms

34.1%

4 bedrooms

43.1%

5 bedrooms

10.8%

6+ bedrooms

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Forest Reefs Population Mobility

9.4%

moved in the last year

29.0%

moved in the last 5 years

2.2%

unemployment rate (Census)

64.5%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Forest Reefs Indigenous Population

2.8%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Indigenous residents

953

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Forest Reefs Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

Asthma

Cancer

Arthritis

Heart disease

Diabetes

Lung condition

Kidney disease

Dementia

Stroke

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Forest Reefs Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

13.1%

$1-$149/wk

7.8%

$150-$299/wk

4.9%

$300-$399/wk

1.2%

$400-$499/wk

1.5%

$500-$649/wk

3.2%

$650-$799/wk

8.7%

$800-$999/wk

5.8%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.6%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

5.2%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

7.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.7%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

15.4%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

4.4%

$3,500+/wk

4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Forest Reefs Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

50.1%

Couple — no children

26.9%

Couple — no children under 15

17.1%

One parent — no children under 15

3.3%

One parent — children under 15

2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Forest Reefs Military Service

🏅

Previously served

1.8% 7

👤

Never served

98.2% 377

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Forest Reefs Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.5% 56

—

Did not provide

85.5% 330

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Forest Reefs Children Ever Born

No children

20.5%

1 child

1.9%

2 children

31.7%

3 children

28.6%

4 children

15.5%

5+ children

1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Forest Reefs When Migrants Arrived

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Forest Reefs Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

20.3%

5–14 hours

34.0%

15–29 hours

16.9%

30+ hours

10.9%

Did not do domestic work

17.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Forest Reefs Household Size

1 person

16.3%

2 persons

32.6%

3 persons

21.5%

4 persons

10.5%

5 persons

13.4%

6+ persons

5.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Forest Reefs Where Residents Moved From

Same address

441

Moved from NSW

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from QLD

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Forest Reefs Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

85.5%

Step family — no other children

7.9%

Blended family — no other children

6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Forest Reefs Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 5 total

Assault

Domestic Violence

Other Against Person

Theft

Other Against Property

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Forest Reefs Rent Prices & Affordability

14%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,343/wk

Median Rent $325/wk

Rent-to-Income 13.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Forest Reefs

Your weekly income

≈ $10,153/month

Median rent $325/wk

Left after rent $2,018/wk

Rent share 13.9%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Darlington Point

Income: $736/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $125/wk

Coleambally

Income: $841/wk Rent: $180/wk Save: $145/wk

Molong

Income: $727/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $55/wk

Denman

Income: $721/wk Rent: $280/wk Save: $45/wk

Hamilton South

Income: $770/wk Rent: $162/wk Save: $163/wk

South Coogee

Income: $958/wk Rent: $207/wk Save: $118/wk

West Wyalong

Income: $778/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $95/wk

Coolamon

Income: $746/wk Rent: $270/wk Save: $55/wk

Forest Reefs vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Tomago

Pop: 269 Income: $561/wk Rent: $250/wk

Bogan Gate

Pop: 269 Income: $601/wk Rent: $200/wk

Wattle Flat (NSW)

Pop: 270 Income: $602/wk Rent: $215/wk

Stubbo

Pop: 270 Income: $619/wk Rent: $325/wk

Baw Baw (NSW)

Pop: 271 Income: $937/wk Rent: $405/wk

Brooms Head

Pop: 271 Income: $517/wk Rent: $280/wk

Compare Forest Reefs

Forest Reefs vs Tomago →Forest Reefs vs Bogan Gate →Forest Reefs vs Wattle Flat (NSW) →Forest Reefs vs Stubbo →

Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Reefs

What is the population of Forest Reefs NSW?

The population of Forest Reefs NSW is 537 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 8.1 people per km².Forest Reefs is ranked #4,920 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Forest Reefs?

The median personal income in Forest Reefs NSW is $891 per week, or $46,332 per year.The median household income is $2,343 per week.Family income is $2,750 per week.Forest Reefs is ranked #2,232 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Forest Reefs?

Median rent in Forest Reefs NSW is $325 per week ($1,408 per month).Rent represents 13.9% of household income, which is considered affordable.Forest Reefs ranks #3,947 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Forest Reefs?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Forest Reefs NSW is $2,174. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Forest Reefs?

The median age in Forest Reefs NSW is 43 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Forest Reefs a good suburb to live in?

Forest Reefs is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 537.The median income is $891/wk, which is above the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (13.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11550. All dollar figures in AUD.