New South Wales · Postcode 2871
Forbes postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 301 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Forbes at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Forbes vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Forbes | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,221 -NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $230 -NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $1,257 -NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 42 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 3/10 -NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 4.2% -NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Forbes is a locality 301 km from Sydney in New South Wales, classified as outer regional by the ABS. The postcode is 2871. It falls within the Central West region. The local government area is Forbes.
According to the 2021 Census, Forbes has a population of 8,157 with a median age of 42. The median weekly household income is $1,221, below the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, lower than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 1,195 (14.6% of residents).
Housing in Forbes includes a median weekly rent of $230, median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,257, with 3,167 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 70.6% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Forbes scores in decile 3 out of 10, which is below the national average.
There are 5 schools in the Forbes area, including Red Bend Catholic College, Forbes Public School, St Laurence's Parish School and others.
Forbes is part of the Lachlan Valley statistical area in New South Wales.
Forbes details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2871 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 8,157 |
| Median Age | 42 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,221/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $706/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $230 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $1,257 |
| Average Household Size | 2.3 persons |
| Area | 884.4 km² |
| Population Density | 9/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 3,167 |
| Australian Citizens | 90.2% |
| Indigenous Population | 1,195 (14.6%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 3/10 (below average) |
| Latitude | -33.379879 |
| Longitude | 148.0066888 |
| Distance from Sydney | 301 km |
| Region (SA4) | Central West |
| Area (SA3) | Lachlan Valley |
| Local Government | Forbes |
| Federal Electorate | Riverina |
| State Electorate | Orange |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 1,582 (19.4%) |
| 15–24 years | 904 (11.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 1,751 (21.5%) |
| 45–64 years | 1,947 (23.9%) |
| 65+ years | 1,969 (24.1%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 1,034 (12.7%) |
| Asthma | 766 (9.4%) |
| Diabetes | 538 (6.6%) |
| Heart Disease | 457 (5.6%) |
| Cancer | 329 (4.0%) |
| Lung Condition | 232 (2.8%) |
| Dementia | 82 (1.0%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 183 (5.9%) |
| 1 vehicle | 1,153 (37.3%) |
| 2 vehicles | 1,155 (37.4%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 598 (19.4%) |
Schools in Forbes
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Forbes. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Forbes
Same Postcode (2871)
More Forbes 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.