Forbes, NSW 2871 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Forbes is a suburb of New South Wales, postcode 2871, home to 8,157 residents with an established residential profile. Located in the Weddin local government area (Outer Regional Australia) and roughly 317 km from the Sydney CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 8,157
- Median age
- 42 years
- Median household income
- $1,221 /week
- Median personal income
- $706 /week
- Median family income
- $1,641 /week
- Average household size
- 2.3
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.7
- Local government area
- Forbes
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Central West
- Remoteness classification
- Outer Regional Australia
- Federal electorate
- Riverina
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $230 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,257
- Rent share of household income
- 19%
Schools
- Forbes Public School
- Forbes North Public School
- Forbes High School
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 55 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 202 bus stops
- Spring St At Lachlan St
- Cross St At Lachlan St
- Webb St At Rankin St
- Sheriff St At Sir Francis Forbes Dr
- Sir Francis Forbes Dr At Sherriff St
Lifestyle & amenities
- 4 cafés
- 10 restaurants
- 5 pubs and bars
- 65 parks and reserves
- 3 gyms and fitness centres
- 1 library
- 3 supermarkets
- 21 playgrounds
Climate
Climate normals from the Bureau of Meteorology.
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Node serves 60.6% of the 4,663 resolvable premises in Forbes. Most premises here connect via fibre to a street cabinet, then copper into the home. Speeds depend heavily on the copper run length — NBN 100 is rarely achievable on long runs.
- Fibre to the Premises: 17.9%
- Fibre to the Curb: 0.1%
- Fibre to the Node: 60.6%
- Fixed Wireless: 19.3%
- Sky Muster (Satellite): 2.1%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 1,120 across postcode 2871 in the year to Dec 2025 (up 36% on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 236 theft, 228 violent offences, 162 other offences.
Nearby suburbs
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Forbes?
Forbes (NSW 2871) had 8,157 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 42. It sits within the Forbes local government area.
What is the median rent in Forbes?
The median advertised rent in Forbes is $230/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Forbes?
Yes — 3 schools are listed within or near Forbes covering government sectors. Nearest include: Forbes Public School (0.5 km), Forbes North Public School (1.8 km), Forbes High School (2.2 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Forbes?
Forbes is predominantly served by Fibre to the Node (60.6% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Forbes?
Across postcode 2871, 1,120 offences were recorded in the 12 months to Dec 2025. The most common offence categories were theft (236), violent (228), other (162). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What public transport options are in Forbes?
202 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Forbes centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 55 bus stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: