Australian Capital Territory · Postcode 2603
Forrest postcode and suburb data
Australian Capital Territory · Phone area code 02 · 4 km from Canberra
Suburb snapshot
Forrest at a glance vs ACT
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against ACT
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Forrest ranks: household income is in the top 10% of ACT suburbs; rents are among the top 10% in ACT; SEIFA decile 10 puts it in the top 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Forrest vs the ACT average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| 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
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| 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 |
| State Electorate | Kurrajong |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
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
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
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Forrest. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
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.