Forresters Beach vs Wamberal

Wamberal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 44 in Forresters Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Forresters Beach, about half of households are couple families. In Wamberal, most households are couple families. On these figures, Forresters Beach tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

Wamberal

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wamberal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Forresters Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 49/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Forresters Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 17%)
  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 49/100)

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

Investors

Forresters Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.7% vs 6.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Forresters Beach Wamberal
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.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Walkability 58 / 49
Forresters Beach — Walkability: 58/100 Wamberal — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 58 / 55
Forresters Beach — Safety: 58/100 Wamberal — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 50 / 33
Forresters Beach — Low fire risk: 50/100 Wamberal — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Wamberal has more residents (6,991 vs 3,354); Wamberal has higher household incomes ($125,164 vs $91,416).

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Population 3,354 6,991
+108% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.7% +6.7%
Median age 44 40
Median household income $91,416/yr $125,164/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk $500/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
0-4 5.3% / 5.7%
Forresters Beach — 0-4: 5.3% Wamberal — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 13.8% / 14.9%
Forresters Beach — 5-14: 13.8% Wamberal — 5-14: 14.9%
15-19 5.4% / 7.5%
Forresters Beach — 15-19: 5.4% Wamberal — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 4.9% / 5.1%
Forresters Beach — 20-24: 4.9% Wamberal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 8.8% / 8.9%
Forresters Beach — 25-34: 8.8% Wamberal — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 12.1% / 13.1%
Forresters Beach — 35-44: 12.1% Wamberal — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 12.6% / 14.9%
Forresters Beach — 45-54: 12.6% Wamberal — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 11.4% / 12.9%
Forresters Beach — 55-64: 11.4% Wamberal — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 13.8% / 10.2%
Forresters Beach — 65-74: 13.8% Wamberal — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 9.4% / 5.1%
Forresters Beach — 75-84: 9.4% Wamberal — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.4% / 1.9%
Forresters Beach — 85+: 2.4% Wamberal — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Forresters Beach 49.4% couple families
Forresters Beach — Couple Families: 49.4% Forresters Beach — Lone Person: 33.6% Forresters Beach — One Parent Families: 12.8% Forresters Beach — Group Household: 3.1% Forresters Beach — Other Families: 1.2%
Wamberal 58.4% couple families
Wamberal — Couple Families: 58.4% Wamberal — Lone Person: 22.9% Wamberal — One Parent Families: 14.2% Wamberal — Group Household: 4.0% Wamberal — Other Families: 0.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Forresters Beach 17.1% renting
Forresters Beach — Owned Outright: 41.0% Forresters Beach — Mortgage: 41.9% Forresters Beach — Renting: 17.1%
Wamberal 17.6% renting
Wamberal — Owned Outright: 37.9% Wamberal — Mortgage: 44.6% Wamberal — Renting: 17.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 13.8%
Forresters Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Wamberal — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 16.0%
Forresters Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Wamberal — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.4%
Forresters Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Wamberal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 4.5%
Forresters Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Wamberal — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.1%
Forresters Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Wamberal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

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.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
England 5.2% / 5.1%
Forresters Beach — England: 5.2% Wamberal — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Forresters Beach — New Zealand: 1.3% Wamberal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.9%
Forresters Beach — South Africa: 0.7% Wamberal — South Africa: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Forresters Beach — Scotland: 0.5% Wamberal — Scotland: 0.5%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Forresters Beach — Ireland: 0.5% Wamberal — Ireland: not among its largest
India — / 0.5%
Forresters Beach — India: not among its largest Wamberal — India: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Forresters Beach 79.8% houses
Forresters Beach — Houses: 79.8% Forresters Beach — Townhouses: 18.2% Forresters Beach — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Wamberal 87.1% houses
Wamberal — Houses: 87.1% Wamberal — Townhouses: 4.7% Wamberal — Flats / Apartments: 8.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Median house price $1,470,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price — $1,100,000
Median land price — $2,750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 42 sales
 40 days
from 97 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
3 bed $1.23M / $1.22M
Forresters Beach — 3 bed: $1.23M (26 sales) Wamberal — 3 bed: $1.22M (38 sales)

26 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.47M / $1.68M
Forresters Beach — 4 bed: $1.47M (38 sales) Wamberal — 4 bed: $1.68M (65 sales)

38 vs 65 sales

5 bed $1.95M / $1.72M
Forresters Beach — 5 bed: $1.95M (16 sales) Wamberal — 5 bed: $1.72M (23 sales)

16 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Wamberal has more land zoned for conservation (69% vs 42%).

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Environmental 42% 69%
Residential 46% 21%
Parks and recreation 5% 4%
Other and special use 4% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Planning zones cover 100% of Forresters Beach and 99% of Wamberal. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Forresters Beach Wamberal
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Houses — 3.7%
$908/wk on $1.27M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Forresters Beach Wamberal
House price Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

Forresters Beach is more walkable (58 vs 49).

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Wamberal carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 50).

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 Moderate
52/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Forresters Beach

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Wamberal

  • Wamberal Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 4 5
Childcare 2 8
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Walkability score 58/100 49/100
Distance to Sydney 89.9 km
+2% vs other
 88.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 84 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 57.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 185.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2260
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2260
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.

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Car (driver) 59.3% / 55.5%
Forresters Beach — Car (driver): 59.3% Wamberal — Car (driver): 55.5%
Worked from Home 35.0% / 38.9%
Forresters Beach — Worked from Home: 35.0% Wamberal — Worked from Home: 38.9%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.3%
Forresters Beach — Car (passenger): 3.8% Wamberal — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.9%
Forresters Beach — Walked Only: 1.0% Wamberal — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bus 0.7% / 0.8%
Forresters Beach — Bus: 0.7% Wamberal — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.3%).

Setting

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 392 m
535 m to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Connectivity score 73/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
1,488 premises
 42%
2,829 premises

Climate

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Forresters Beach Wamberal
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Forresters Beach Wamberal
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Forresters Beach

Beach Coastal Retirees

Wamberal

Beach Coastal Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Forresters Beach

Forresters Beach vs Bateau Bay Forresters Beach vs Tumbi Umbi

Other comparisons with Wamberal

Wamberal vs Terrigal Wamberal vs Tumbi Umbi Wamberal vs Matcham Wamberal vs Erina Heights
Full data on Forresters Beach Full data on Wamberal
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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