Forrest Postcode
Australian Capital Territory
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
How Forrest Compares
Forrest vs the ACT average and the national average (2021 Census, population-weighted).
| Metric | Forrest | ACT avg | AU avg | Greater Canberra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $3,363 +ACT | $2,444 | $1,836 | $2,445 |
| Rent/wk | $570 +ACT | $446 | $390 | $447 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,520 +ACT | $2,115 | $1,958 | $2,115 |
| Median age | 47 | 37.5 | 45.0 | 37.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 10/10 ≈ACT | 10.0/10 | 6.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 3.0% -ACT | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the ACT average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Postcode 2603 covers Forrest, an inland suburb of Canberra about 4 km from the city centre. It forms part of the Australian Capital Territory region of Australian Capital Territory. Local government services are provided by Unincorporated ACT.
According to the 2021 Census, Forrest has a population of 1,827 with a median age of 47. The median weekly household income is $3,363, above the ACT average. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, lower than the ACT average. The Indigenous population is 8 (0.4% of residents).
Housing in Forrest includes a median weekly rent of $570, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,520, with 786 total dwellings. These housing costs sit above the ACT average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 68.7% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Forrest scores in decile 10 out of 10, which is well above the national average.
Forrest is served by Forrest Primary School.
Forrest is part of the South Canberra statistical area in Australian Capital Territory.
Forrest Details
| Postcode | 2603 |
| State | Australian Capital Territory (ACT) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 1,827 |
| Median Age | 47 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $3,363/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $1,816/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $570 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,520 |
| Average Household Size | 2.2 persons |
| Area | 1.6 km² |
| Population Density | 1149/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 786 |
| Australian Citizens | 91.7% |
| Indigenous Population | 8 (0.4%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 10/10 (well above average) |
| Latitude | -35.318056 |
| Longitude | 149.125 |
| Distance from Canberra | 4 km |
| Region (SA4) | Australian Capital Territory |
| Area (SA3) | South Canberra |
| Local Government | Unincorporated ACT |
| Federal Electorate | Canberra |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 207 (11.3%) |
| 15–24 years | 188 (10.3%) |
| 25–44 years | 464 (25.4%) |
| 45–64 years | 552 (30.2%) |
| 65+ years | 424 (23.2%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA Socio-economic Index
Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD), decile 10 of 10. Higher deciles indicate more advantage.
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 156 (8.5%) |
| Asthma | 156 (8.5%) |
| Heart Disease | 86 (4.7%) |
| Cancer | 77 (4.2%) |
| Diabetes | 51 (2.8%) |
| Lung Condition | 29 (1.6%) |
| Dementia | 8 (0.4%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 32 (4.1%) |
| 1 vehicle | 320 (40.9%) |
| 2 vehicles | 296 (37.9%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 134 (17.1%) |
Schools in Forrest
Suburbs Near Forrest
Same Postcode (2603)
More Forrest Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.