Forcett
With just 1,102 residents spread across 57.9 square kilometres, Forcett is one of Tasmania's most sparsely settled rural localities at 19 people per square kilometre. What stands out is the tenure profile: 59% of households carry a mortgage while only 5.7% rent, an unusually low renter share compared to national averages. Household income sits at the 63.9th percentile nationally, above the median despite the rural setting. The housing stock is entirely detached houses, and 40.9% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms, pointing to larger family homes than typically found in urban Tasmania.
Population
1,102
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,797/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Forcett's housing market is dominated by detached houses, with 100% of dwellings being separate houses and 40.9% having four or more bedrooms, higher than typical Tasmanian averages. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.8% of stock, giving buyers a clear majority in that configuration. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,707, reflecting a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The 59% mortgage rate among households is notably high compared to national norms, suggesting this is a community of active buyers rather than long-established owners. With 35.3% owning outright, the suburb has a mix of established residents and newer owner-occupiers.
For Buyers
Forcett's housing market is dominated by detached houses, with 100% of dwellings being separate houses and 40.9% having four or more bedrooms, higher than typical Tasmanian averages. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.8% of stock, giving buyers a clear majority in that configuration. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,707, reflecting a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The 59% mortgage rate among households is notably high compared to national norms, suggesting this is a community of active buyers rather than long-established owners. With 35.3% owning outright, the suburb has a mix of established residents and newer owner-occupiers.
For Investors
Forcett is a low-rental market: only 5.7% of households rent, far below national averages, which limits the tenant pool for investors. Weekly rent sits at $295, modest relative to the broader Tasmanian median. The vacancy rate of 7.4% is elevated, suggesting rental supply outpaces the limited demand at this price point. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure but also no growth signal from the construction sector. The low rental share combined with 7.4% vacancy makes yield compression a real risk, and the investment case rests more on land value and lifestyle premium than rental income.
Demographics
Forcett's median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure, placing it slightly younger than national averages. The overseas-born share stands at just 7.3%, which is 14.3 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic population. English ancestry leads at 509 residents, followed by Scottish (99) and Irish (96). University qualifications reach only 15.5% of the population, 14.6 percentage points below national levels, consistent with a rural trades and services workforce. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above the national figure, and 41.7% of families are couples with children, indicating a family-oriented community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Forcett is a separate house, a 100% detached rate that stands in contrast to Tasmanian urban centres where apartments and semi-detached dwellings represent a growing share. The bedroom profile skews large: 40.9% have four or more bedrooms and 46.8% have three bedrooms, meaning smaller homes are rare. Tenure divides into 35.3% outright owners, 59% on mortgages and 5.7% renting. The 59% mortgage rate is high for a rural locality and reflects a community where younger families are buying into the area rather than inheriting established holdings. Mortgage repayments of $1,707 per month translate to a 21.9% mortgage-to-income ratio, below stress levels, giving buyers reasonable headroom.
Mortgage / mo
$1,707
Rent / wk
$295
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$809
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.3%
Couples, no children
951
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction dominates local employment at 19.6% of workers (72 people), well above typical national shares, reflecting demand from peri-urban development around Greater Hobart. Healthcare follows at 17.1% (63 workers) and Education at 10.9% (40 workers), giving the local economy a split between trades and public services. Public Administration accounts for 10.1% and Professional/Technical services for 7.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.4% with a participation rate of 64.9%, both in line with Tasmanian rural norms. Full-time employment runs at 59.9% of employed residents. Weekly personal income averages $809 and household income $1,797, placing households in the 63.9th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
35.7%
Participation
64.9%
Employed
549
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.5%
Postgraduate
3.5%
Born Overseas
7.3%
Dwellings
367
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total in Forcett, with 92.6% of residents driving to work, compared to lower national averages, a predictable outcome for a rural locality spanning 57.9 square kilometres. Walking and cycling account for 3% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on schools in nearby Sorell or other Sorell municipality centres. Crime data is not available for this locality. The need-for-assistance rate sits at 4.6% (47 people), in line with the population's median age of 39. Rent-to-income at 16.4% means tenants face no financial stress, and mortgage holders at 21.9% are also well within comfortable ranges relative to national benchmarks.
Drive
92.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Forcett compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forcett a good suburb to live in?
Forcett suits buyers seeking large detached homes in a rural setting close to Hobart. Household income sits at the 63.9th percentile nationally, mortgage stress is low at 21.9% of income, and 89.9% of residents stay year to year. The trade-off is near-total car dependency and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Forcett?
A specific median house price is not available for Forcett in the current dataset. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,707, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.9%, suggesting purchase prices are relatively affordable compared to Hobart's inner suburbs. Weekly rent is $295.
What schools are in Forcett?
No schools are recorded inside the Forcett boundary. Families in this locality rely on schools in nearby Sorell and surrounding Sorell municipality centres. The suburb's university qualification rate is 15.5%, which is 14.6 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Forcett safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Forcett. As context, the suburb has a very low renter share of 5.7%, a stable community where 89.9% of residents stayed over the Census year, and a low need-for-assistance rate of 4.6% (47 people), all consistent with a settled, low-transience locality.
Is Forcett good for property investment?
The rental market is thin: only 5.7% of households rent, well below national averages, and the vacancy rate is 7.4%. Weekly rent of $295 limits yield potential. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months. The investment case relies on capital growth from Hobart's expanding commuter belt rather than rental yield.
How is Forcett's population changing?
Forcett's population stands at 1,102 residents across 57.9 square kilometres, giving a density of 19 people per square kilometre. Community stability is high, with a turnover rate of just 10.1% and 89.9% of residents remaining in the suburb year over year, typical of an established rural locality.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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