Global CityIntelligence

Australia / Oceania

Forster, Australia City Intelligence

Forster is an indexed city in Australia (Oceania), with a metropolitan population of about ~14K. This profile brings together deterministic city-intelligence indicators for Forster spanning cost of living, climate, safety and quality of life, economy and jobs, education, and healthcare. Forster is a oceania city of about ~14K in Australia. On the composite city-intelligence score, Forster sits around the indexed median (77/100).

Last updated
2026-05-16
Data year
2025
Population
~14K
View of Forster, Australia

Image credit: Image: Rob Freijs / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Overall score

Use the Forster profile to compare affordability, livability, and economic indicators against other indexed cities in Australia and across Oceania, and to explore nearby nature and weekend destinations.

Overall77/100
Affordability50/100
Air quality75/100
Energy74/100

Overall city intelligence

Good

77/100

Composite directional score across affordability, air quality, clean energy, and resilience.

Data confidence

Directional

Directional indicators pending integration of verified city-level data.

Verified utility layers

See country hub

Emergency, healthcare, and transport verification status appears on the country hub.

Forster data table

The table is part of the initial server-rendered HTML and mirrors the key city score cards.

Forster city intelligence data table
MetricValueContext
Overall score77/100Composite score across major city intelligence modules.
Cost of Living50/100Forster's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.
Air Quality75/100Forster's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.
Energy74/100Forster's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.
Safety75/100Forster's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.
Internet Speed76/100Forster's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.
Climate Risk73/100Forster's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.
Resilience73/100Climate adaptation and infrastructure continuity context.

Safety

Deterministic safety estimates from our index — planning signals derived from country priors and city data, not official crime statistics.

Safety

Overall safety79/100
Low crime81/100
Personal safety80/100
Night safety75/100
Road safety76/100

Forster is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.

Quality of Life

A composite quality-of-life estimate and its component indicators.

Quality of Life

Quality of life83/100
Healthcare86/100
Education83/100
Green space96/100
Cleanliness86/100
Infrastructure85/100
Mobility54/100

Forster has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure.

Family Friendliness

How the city scores for raising a family, with the indicators that drive it.

Family Friendliness

Family friendliness82/100
Education83/100
Green space96/100
Overall safety79/100

Forster scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.

Digital Nomad Suitability

Suitability for remote workers, based on connectivity, mobility, and livability.

Digital Nomad Suitability

Digital nomad suitability71/100
Walkability53/100
Cycling55/100
Infrastructure85/100

Forster is high for remote workers (71/100), based on connectivity, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.

Retirement Suitability

Suitability for retirement, weighing healthcare, affordability, climate, and environment.

Retirement Suitability

Retirement suitability79/100
Healthcare86/100
Cleanliness86/100
Outdoor lifestyle60/100

Forster is high for retirement (79/100), appealing for healthcare access, a comfortable climate and a clean environment.

Emergency and public safety in Forster

Local public safety guidance for Forster, with the country-level emergency contacts that apply when calling for police, fire, or ambulance.

Verified
Australia emergency contacts
ServiceNumberNotes
Universal emergency (Triple Zero)00024/7000 reaches police, fire, and ambulance dispatch nationally; 112 also works from mobile phones.

For the universal emergency contacts that apply in Forster, including police, fire, and ambulance, see the Australia emergency profile.

Public safety sources

Each emergency contact above is attributed to an official emergency service or government publisher. Confirm current numbers directly with these sources.

Last verified: 2026-05-16

Methodology and the wider source registry are documented on the scoring methodology and data sources pages.

Healthcare and hospitals in Forster

Healthcare context for Forster, with national-level information from Australia where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only and does not provide medical advice.

Verified

For the national healthcare and public-health context that applies in Forster, see the Australia healthcare profile.

Healthcare sources

Each entry above is attributed to an official government, public health, or recognised health-system publisher. Confirm current information directly with these sources.

Last verified: 2026-05-16

Related sections: emergency and public safety, scoring methodology, and data sources.

Transport and mobility in Forster

Local mobility context for Forster, with national-level context from Australia where city-specific data is not yet verified. This is informational only.

Verified

For national transport authorities and operators that apply in Forster, see the Australia transport profile.

Transport sources

Each entry above is attributed to an official transport authority, national operator, airport publisher, or government source. Confirm current information directly with these publishers.

Last verified: 2026-05-16

Related sections: emergency and public safety, healthcare and hospitals, cities directory, countries directory, scoring methodology, data sources.

Air quality dataset

Source-attributed air-quality dataset for Forster. Verified measurements are surfaced when published from accepted official datasets; transparent fallback is shown otherwise.

Air quality dataset for Forster

Verified data unavailableLast updated 2026-05-16 / data year 2025

Verified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location

Source-attributed values for Forster will appear here after the platform integrates verified measurements from accepted official publishers. Until then, structured air-quality module context remains available on the dedicated module page.

Forster air-quality dataset coverage
MetricValueData yearStatus
Air qualityVerified air-quality measurements are not yet published for this location.

Data provenance

Source attribution
  • Global City Intelligence — air-quality dataset

    Verified data unavailable
    Publisher
    Global City Intelligence
    Last verified
    2026-05-16

    The air-quality dataset begins empty by design. Verified city-level measurements appear here only after they are sourced from accepted publishers (WHO, EEA, US EPA, OpenAQ, OECD, or official national/city environmental agencies).

Quick answers

Quick, evidence-based answers about Forster drawn from this profile's indexed cost, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data. Figures are deterministic estimates for orientation — verify specifics with official sources.

Quick answers about Forster

Is Forster worth visiting?

Yes — excellent quality of life (83/100), with nearby nature such as Myall Lakes National Park, Myall Lakes.

Is Forster good for families?

Excellent (82/100) on safety, schools and green space.

Is Forster affordable?

Around average cost; about A$2,880/month for one person (estimate).

When is the best time to visit Forster?

Late spring to early autumn; warmest in Jan, coldest in Jul.

What are Forster's main industries?

Mainly tourism, mining, hospitality.

What is the climate in Forster?

An oceanic climate, averaging about 21.0°C.

Does Forster have universities?

Higher education is good (64/100).

What is healthcare like in Forster?

Healthcare access is strong (66/100).

Is Forster good for retirement?

Retirement suitability is strong (66/100).

What nature is near Forster?

Within ~170 km: Myall Lakes National Park, Myall Lakes.

Explore Forster modules

City pages link to module and ranking pages so crawlers can move through the topic cluster naturally.

Cost of Living in Forster

Forster's cost-of-living profile is a directional indicator pending integration of verified city-level data; structured benchmark context applies.

Air Quality in Forster

Forster's air-quality profile is a directional indicator framed against WHO and regional benchmarks; verified city-level measurements appear in the dedicated air-quality dataset section once integrated.

Energy in Forster

Forster's energy-readiness profile is a directional indicator that combines national policy framing with city-level adaptation context.

Safety in Forster

Forster's safety profile is a directional indicator; verified country-level emergency profiles attach via the country hub where available.

Internet Speed in Forster

Forster's connectivity profile is a directional indicator combining national digital-readiness context with widely cited speed-test references.

Climate Risk in Forster

Forster's climate-risk profile is a directional indicator combining regional hazard categories with national adaptation capacity.

City rankings

Compare this city against other indexed cities in crawlable ranking tables.

Cost of living in Forster

Cost of living estimates for Forster — monthly budgets, rent, food, and transport in the local currency, plus an affordability score for comparison. Planning estimates derived from country baselines, not live prices.

Climate in Forster

Climate profile for Forster — Oceanic climate, annual average 21°C, comfort score 82/100. Month-by-month temperatures, rainfall, sunshine, and the best months to visit. Deterministic planning estimates, not a forecast.

Economy and jobs in Forster

Economy and jobs profile for Forster — tourism economy, economy score 71/100, key industries including tourism, mining, hospitality. Employment, salary, startup, remote-work, and career indicators. Deterministic planning estimates.

Universities and education in Forster

Education profile for Forster — regional education center, education score 60/100, 4 representative universities, plus research, student life, and international-student indicators. Deterministic dataset, not institutional rankings.

Healthcare and retirement in Forster

Healthcare and retirement profile for Forster — healthcare access city, healthcare score 66/100, retirement score 66/100. Medical access, specialist and emergency care, affordability, and retirement suitability. Deterministic planning estimates.

Visual guide to Forster

Source-attributed visual context for Forster using verified Wikimedia imagery from the existing media catalog, alongside structured city intelligence and planning links. Not a tourism guide or attractions ranking.

Weekend trip planning guide for Forster

Weekend trip planning checklist for Forster — links into arrival planning, Summer 2026 travel context, visual orientation, budget tools, transport, public safety, and healthcare context. Not an itinerary, events calendar, hotel-price guide, restaurant guide, or tourism ranking.

Nearby weekend places from Forster

Source-backed nearby place records for local-first weekend planning, with verification status, official source links, Wikidata identity, and visual context.

Estimate a monthly budget for Forster

Estimate a monthly budget for Forster using your own housing, food, transport, healthcare, and lifestyle inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official cost-of-living measurement.

Plan a trip budget for Forster

Plan a trip budget for Forster using your own accommodation, food, local transport, activities, travel, healthcare buffer, and emergency buffer inputs. Planning estimator only — not an official travel cost estimate.

Nearby cities from Forster

Where else nearby you could spend a day or a weekend from Forster. Links are derived from geographic proximity, shared region, shared natural-recreation areas, transport corridors, and country borders — not popularity or tourism rankings.

Taree, Australia

Nearby city · about 34 km from Forster. Explore Taree's city intelligence profile.

Newcastle, Australia

Same region · about 107 km from Forster. Explore Newcastle's city intelligence profile.

Maitland, Australia

Same region · about 109 km from Forster. Explore Maitland's city intelligence profile.

Kempsey, Australia

Same region · about 129 km from Forster. Explore Kempsey's city intelligence profile.

Cessnock, Australia

Same region · about 130 km from Forster. Explore Cessnock's city intelligence profile.

Singleton, Australia

Same region · about 134 km from Forster. Explore Singleton's city intelligence profile.

Armidale, Australia

Same region · about 207 km from Forster. Explore Armidale's city intelligence profile.

Related collections

Regional discovery collections that include Forster — named natural regions grouping nearby nature, parks, lakes, coasts, and mountains for local-first day and weekend planning.

Themed collections

Theme-first discovery collections that include Forster — grouped by outdoor interest (mountains, lakes, coasts, forests, national parks) rather than geography.

Forster FAQ

Common questions about living in, visiting, working in, studying in and retiring to Forster, answered from the indexed cost-of-living, climate, safety, economy, education, healthcare and nearby-nature data on this profile.

Frequently asked questions about Forster

Is Forster worth visiting?

Forster has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. Visitors can also reach nature such as Myall Lakes National Park, Myall Lakes and Bulahdelah Mountain within weekend range.

What is it like to live in Forster?

Forster has a very high quality-of-life estimate (83/100), with notable strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness and infrastructure. It indexes 83/100 for overall quality of life.

How much does it cost to live in Forster?

A single resident of Forster spends roughly A$2,880 per month, with a one-bedroom rent near A$1,530. Overall the city is around average cost for Australia. These are modelled estimates, not live quotes — verify locally.

What should I know about moving to Forster?

Plan for around-average living costs and check current rents before relocating. Forster is high for remote workers (71/100), based on connectivity, safety and overall livability and day-to-day amenities.

What is the job market like in Forster?

Forster's labour market is strong, with opportunities concentrated in tourism and hospitality, technology and healthcare. Forster has a tourism-driven economy with strengths in tourism, mining and hospitality.

Is Forster good for digital nomads and remote work?

Forster offers strong infrastructure and amenities for remote professionals, with a remote-work score of 78/100.

What are the education options in Forster?

Forster is a regional education center with a mix of universities and research activity in our dataset, spanning fields such as Social Sciences, Physics and Mathematics.

Is Forster a good place to study?

Forster offers a developing student environment, supported by strong quality of life and good connectivity.

What is healthcare like in Forster?

Forster has solid baseline healthcare access, supported by hospitals, specialist services, and public-health infrastructure, with a healthcare score of 66/100. Residents have strong access to healthcare across primary, specialist, and emergency care.

Is Forster a good place to retire?

Forster offers a combination of healthcare access, safety, and amenities that may appeal to retirees, with a retirement score of 66/100. Residents benefit from parks and green space and broad urban amenities and day-to-day services.

What is the climate like in Forster?

Forster has an oceanic climate, averaging about 21.0°C annually with roughly 1001 mm of rain. The hottest month is Jan and the coldest Jul. The driest is typically Dec.

Is Forster a safe place to live?

Forster is estimated to be a generally safe city (79/100 in our safety index), with solid personal-safety indicators.

How easy is it to get around Forster?

Forster indexes a walkability score of 53 and a cycling score of 55 out of 100. Check the local operator for live transit routes and fares.

What nature and outdoor places are near Forster?

Nature destinations within about 170 km of Forster include Myall Lakes National Park, Myall Lakes and Bulahdelah Mountain. Each is linked with its official source on the profile.

Is Forster good for families?

Forster scores very high for family living (82/100), helped by education access, safety, parks and green space and healthcare.

What outdoor activities are there around Forster?

Forster rates 60/100 for outdoor lifestyle and 96/100 for green space. Nearby nature such as Myall Lakes National Park, Myall Lakes and Bulahdelah Mountain supports day hikes, water activities and weekend trips.

Interpretation

Use the Forster profile to compare affordability, livability, and economic indicators against other indexed cities in Australia and across Oceania, and to explore nearby nature and weekend destinations. Its standout dimensions are internet speed (76/100) and air quality (75/100). The area most worth watching is cost of living (50/100), where the model registers practical gaps. Data year 2025; last updated 2026-05-16. Drawn from 4 institutional references.

Country context is available on the Australia country page. Related rankings include Overall Intelligence, Quality of Life, Remote Work. See where Forster appears in global rankings or read the scoring methodology.

Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation. Verified datasets are being integrated; official sources should be used for critical decisions.

Sources

4 institutional references inform this view, listed below with reliability notes. Structured indicators on this page are directional and intended for orientation; verified datasets are being integrated and official sources should be used for critical decisions.