Foster North vs Foster

Foster North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 56 against 59 in Foster. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Foster North, about half of households are people living alone. In Foster, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Foster tends to suit people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Foster North is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 35%)
  • Foster has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Foster

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 5%)
  • has cheaper rent ($240/wk vs $385/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Foster North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (166.9 km vs 175.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (132 min vs 138 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Foster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Foster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.0% vs -7.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Foster North Foster
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.

Foster North Foster
Walkability 0 / 4
Foster North — Walkability: 0/100 Foster — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 46 / 43
Foster North — Safety: 46/100 Foster — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Foster North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Foster — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 48
Foster North — Low flood risk: 100/100 Foster — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Foster has more residents (2,044 vs 152); Foster North rents higher ($385/wk vs $240/wk).

Foster North Foster
Population 152 2,044
+1245% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -7.9% +11.0%
Median age 56 59
Median household income $62,816/yr
+19% vs other
 $50,700/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk
+38% vs other
 $240/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Foster North Foster
0-4 2.0% / 2.9%
Foster North — 0-4: 2.0% Foster — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 2.6% / 8.9%
Foster North — 5-14: 2.6% Foster — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 3.9% / 4.3%
Foster North — 15-19: 3.9% Foster — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 — / 3.0%
Foster North — 20-24: not among its largest Foster — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 3.3% / 6.1%
Foster North — 25-34: 3.3% Foster — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 6.6% / 7.6%
Foster North — 35-44: 6.6% Foster — 35-44: 7.6%
45-54 16.4% / 10.3%
Foster North — 45-54: 16.4% Foster — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 19.7% / 17.1%
Foster North — 55-64: 19.7% Foster — 55-64: 17.1%
65-74 24.3% / 19.9%
Foster North — 65-74: 24.3% Foster — 65-74: 19.9%
75-84 8.6% / 13.4%
Foster North — 75-84: 8.6% Foster — 75-84: 13.4%
85+ 2.0% / 6.5%
Foster North — 85+: 2.0% Foster — 85+: 6.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Foster North 52.5% lone person
Foster North — Lone Person: 52.5% Foster North — Couple Families: 35.0% Foster North — One Parent Families: 12.5% Foster North — Group Household: 0.0% Foster North — Other Families: 0.0%
Foster 61.7% lone person
Foster — Lone Person: 61.7% Foster — Couple Families: 23.9% Foster — One Parent Families: 10.8% Foster — Group Household: 3.1% Foster — Other Families: 0.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Foster North 4.9% renting
Foster North — Owned Outright: 68.9% Foster North — Mortgage: 26.2% Foster North — Renting: 4.9%
Foster 20.9% renting
Foster — Owned Outright: 58.5% Foster — Mortgage: 20.6% Foster — Renting: 20.9%
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.

Foster North Foster
England 11.2% / 4.3%
Foster North — England: 11.2% Foster — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.1%
Foster North — New Zealand: 2.6% Foster — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy — / 0.8%
Foster North — Italy: not among its largest Foster — Italy: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Foster North — Philippines: not among its largest Foster — Philippines: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Foster North — Scotland: not among its largest Foster — Scotland: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

Qualifications

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

Foster North Foster
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 15.4%
Foster North — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Foster — Certificate III & IV: 15.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 9.9%
Foster North — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Foster — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 12.5% / 9.1%
Foster North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.5% Foster — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 9.9% / 3.1%
Foster North — Postgraduate Degree: 9.9% Foster — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.9% / 2.1%
Foster North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.9% Foster — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Foster North 100.0% houses
Foster North — Houses: 100.0% Foster North — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Foster North — Townhouses: 0.0%
Foster 88.2% houses
Foster — Houses: 88.2% Foster — Flats / Apartments: 8.4% Foster — Townhouses: 3.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Foster North Foster
Median house price — $542,500
Median unit price — $485,000
Median land price — $787,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 82 days
from 34 sales

Zoning mix

Foster North Foster
Rural and farming 99% 91%
Parks and recreation 1% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
Residential 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Foster North and 99% of Foster. 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

Foster North Foster
New dwellings approved 170
across South Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +21%
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.

Foster North Foster
Houses — 2.7%
$406/wk on $795K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Foster North Foster
House price — Higher than 34% of VIC
Income Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 70% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 19% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 6% of VIC

Liveability

Foster North Foster
Grade — C
Score — 46/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Foster carries more flood risk (52 vs 0).

Foster North Foster
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
54/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
81/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Foster North Foster
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Foster North

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

Schools in Foster

  • Foster Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Foster Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Corner Inlet College Independent · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Foster North Foster
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 6
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 11

Mobility

Foster sits further from the CBD (175.2 km vs 166.9 km).

Foster North Foster
Walkability score 0/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 166.9 km 175.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 132 min 138 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3960
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3960
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.

Foster North Foster
Car (driver) 39.4% / 67.0%
Foster North — Car (driver): 39.4% Foster — Car (driver): 67.0%
Worked from Home 39.4% / 17.6%
Foster North — Worked from Home: 39.4% Foster — Worked from Home: 17.6%
Walked Only 15.2% / 10.3%
Foster North — Walked Only: 15.2% Foster — Walked Only: 10.3%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 4.1%
Foster North — Car (passenger): 6.1% Foster — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Foster North — Bicycle: not among its largest Foster — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

Foster North Foster
Elevation 212 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.3 km 3.5 km

NBN connectivity

Foster North Foster
Connectivity score 28/100 55/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
100 premises
 28%
1,292 premises

Council rates

Foster North Foster
Average residential rate $2,282/yr
same for both
Council South Gippsland
same for both

Federal electorate

Foster North Foster
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Foster North Foster
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Foster North

Retirees Rural

Foster

Affordable Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Foster North

Foster North vs Stony Creek Foster North vs Buffalo Foster North vs Dollar

Other comparisons with Foster

Foster vs Fish Creek Foster vs Toora Foster vs Buffalo Foster vs Yanakie Foster vs Port Franklin
Full data on Foster North Full data on Foster
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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