Bedgerabong vs Forbes

Forbes is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Bedgerabong. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Bedgerabong: a median of $770,000, against $475,000 in Forbes, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Forbes tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Bedgerabong is a very small rural community of 127 people, while Forbes is a regional town of 8157, offering vastly different lifestyles. Bedgerabong has a higher median household income at $71,500 compared to Forbes's $63,492, and significantly lower crime risk at 52 versus 91. However, Bedgerabong's median house price of $770,000 is substantially higher than Forbes's $467,500, and it sits further from the CBD at 419.1 km. Forbes offers better walkability and lower bushfire risk, making it more suitable for those seeking an established town with services, while Bedgerabong appeals to buyers seeking rural isolation and stronger household incomes despite the premium property costs.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Forbes

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (36 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • But Bedgerabong carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 90/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Bedgerabong leaves households under less mortgage stress (0% vs 24%)
  • Forbes has cheaper houses ($475,000 vs $770,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Forbes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($230/wk vs $250/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Forbes

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (18/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (385.4 km vs 419.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (310 min vs 334 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Forbes

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (18/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 19%)
  • But Bedgerabong carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 90/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Forbes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-3.3% vs -14.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bedgerabong and Forbes drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bedgerabong Forbes
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Bedgerabong Forbes
Walkability 0 / 18
Bedgerabong — Walkability: 0/100 Forbes — Walkability: 18/100
Safety 24 / 10
Bedgerabong — Safety: 24/100 Forbes — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 69 / 77
Bedgerabong — Low fire risk: 69/100 Forbes — Low fire risk: 77/100

Demographics

Forbes has more residents (8,157 vs 127); Bedgerabong has higher household incomes ($71,500 vs $63,492).

Bedgerabong Forbes
Population 127 8,157
+6323% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -14.8% -3.3%
Median age 45 42
Median household income $71,500/yr
+11% vs other
 $63,492/yr
Median weekly rent $250/wk
+8% vs other
 $230/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bedgerabong Forbes
0-4 7.1% / 5.7%
Bedgerabong — 0-4: 7.1% Forbes — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.7% / 13.7%
Bedgerabong — 5-14: 15.7% Forbes — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 4.7% / 5.7%
Bedgerabong — 15-19: 4.7% Forbes — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 — / 5.4%
Bedgerabong — 20-24: not among its largest Forbes — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 2.4% / 10.8%
Bedgerabong — 25-34: 2.4% Forbes — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 10.2% / 10.6%
Bedgerabong — 35-44: 10.2% Forbes — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 18.9% / 11.1%
Bedgerabong — 45-54: 18.9% Forbes — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 17.3% / 12.8%
Bedgerabong — 55-64: 17.3% Forbes — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 10.2% / 12.2%
Bedgerabong — 65-74: 10.2% Forbes — 65-74: 12.2%
75-84 5.5% / 8.7%
Bedgerabong — 75-84: 5.5% Forbes — 75-84: 8.7%
85+ 3.1% / 3.3%
Bedgerabong — 85+: 3.1% Forbes — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bedgerabong 45.7% lone person
Bedgerabong — Lone Person: 45.7% Bedgerabong — Couple Families: 42.9% Bedgerabong — One Parent Families: 11.4% Bedgerabong — Group Household: 0.0% Bedgerabong — Other Families: 0.0%
Forbes 45.2% lone person
Forbes — Lone Person: 45.2% Forbes — Couple Families: 32.0% Forbes — One Parent Families: 18.1% Forbes — Group Household: 3.3% Forbes — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bedgerabong 12.5% renting
Bedgerabong — Owned Outright: 62.5% Bedgerabong — Mortgage: 25.0% Bedgerabong — Renting: 12.5%
Forbes 29.4% renting
Forbes — Owned Outright: 39.0% Forbes — Mortgage: 31.6% Forbes — Renting: 29.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bedgerabong Forbes
New Zealand 3.9% / 0.5%
Bedgerabong — New Zealand: 3.9% Forbes — New Zealand: 0.5%
England 2.4% / 0.9%
Bedgerabong — England: 2.4% Forbes — England: 0.9%
Philippines 2.4% / 0.3%
Bedgerabong — Philippines: 2.4% Forbes — Philippines: 0.3%
India — / 0.4%
Bedgerabong — India: not among its largest Forbes — India: 0.4%
China — / 0.2%
Bedgerabong — China: not among its largest Forbes — China: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Bedgerabong Forbes
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 16.3%
Bedgerabong — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Forbes — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 7.1% / 7.1%
Bedgerabong — Bachelor Degree: 7.1% Forbes — Bachelor Degree: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma — / 5.3%
Bedgerabong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: not among its largest Forbes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 1.4%
Bedgerabong — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Forbes — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.0%
Bedgerabong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Forbes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bedgerabong 100.0% houses
Bedgerabong — Houses: 100.0% Bedgerabong — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Bedgerabong — Townhouses: 0.0%
Forbes 88.6% houses
Forbes — Houses: 88.6% Forbes — Flats / Apartments: 6.6% Forbes — Townhouses: 4.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bedgerabong Forbes
Median house price $770,000 $475,000
Median unit price — $395,000
Median land price — $212,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 62 days
from 58 sales

Zoning mix

Bedgerabong Forbes
Rural and farming 100% 96%
Residential 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Bedgerabong Forbes
New dwellings approved 31
across Forbes
same for both
Approvals change year on year +125%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bedgerabong Forbes
Houses — 3.9%
$440/wk on $580K
Units — 4.0%
$380/wk on $500K

Ranking within NSW

Bedgerabong Forbes
House price Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Income Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 47% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 3% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 22% of NSW

Liveability

Forbes is more walkable (18 vs 0).

Bedgerabong Forbes
Grade — D
Score — 29/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Forbes carries more crime risk (90 vs 76).

Bedgerabong Forbes
Bushfire Low
31/100
 Low
23/100
Crime High
76/100
 High
90/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Bedgerabong Forbes
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Bedgerabong

  • Bedgerabong Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Forbes

  • Red Bend Catholic College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Forbes Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Laurence's Parish School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Forbes High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Forbes North Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bedgerabong Forbes
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 8
Parks & reserves 1 36
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 5
Waterways 4 36

Mobility

Bedgerabong sits further from the CBD (419.1 km vs 385.4 km).

Bedgerabong Forbes
Walkability score 0/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 419.1 km
+8% vs other
 385.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 334 min 310 min
Public transport score 21/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 110.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2871
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2871
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Bedgerabong Forbes
Car (driver) 44.9% / 79.4%
Bedgerabong — Car (driver): 44.9% Forbes — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 34.7% / 9.2%
Bedgerabong — Worked from Home: 34.7% Forbes — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Car (passenger) 12.2% / 6.2%
Bedgerabong — Car (passenger): 12.2% Forbes — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Walked Only 8.2% / 4.2%
Bedgerabong — Walked Only: 8.2% Forbes — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bus — / 0.5%
Bedgerabong — Bus: not among its largest Forbes — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

Bedgerabong Forbes
Elevation 218 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 235 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Bedgerabong Forbes
Connectivity score 15/100 55/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
21 premises
 24%
4,208 premises

Council rates

Bedgerabong Forbes
Average residential rate $957/yr
same for both
Council Forbes
same for both

Federal electorate

Bedgerabong Forbes
Division Parkes
same for both
Member Jamie Chaffey
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bedgerabong Forbes
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bedgerabong

Family Rural

Forbes

Affordable Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bedgerabong

Bedgerabong vs Warroo Bedgerabong vs Gunning Gap Bedgerabong vs Jemalong

Other comparisons with Forbes

Forbes vs Eugowra Forbes vs Bogan Gate Forbes vs Paytens Bridge Forbes vs Wirrinya Forbes vs Tichborne Forbes vs Gunningbland
Full data on Bedgerabong Full data on Forbes
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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