Forest City, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Winnebago County County

4.1 /5.0
A Great
4,280 Population 932/sq mi density
$62,917 Median Income $34,494 per capita
$136,400 Home Value $184,961 Zillow
$719 Median Rent 23.7% income on rent
45°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.1 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$62,917 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$136,400 home value, $719/mo rent
B
Education
3.1 / 5.0
26.0% bachelor's degree or higher

Forest City, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$62,917
16% below
$34,494 per capita
Home Value
$136,400
52% below
Zillow: $184,961
Median Rent
$719/mo
38% below
23.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
26.0%
23% below
93.3% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
31% below
6.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.4%
23% above
15.2% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F

How Forest City Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Forest City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
84%
Home Value
48%
Rent
62%
Poverty
48%
Bachelor's
77%
Unemployment
69%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Forest City a Good Place to Live?

A
4.1 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Forest City residents earn a median household income of $62,917 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $34,494. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 6.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 393 business establishments, including 21 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Forest City is $136,400 , 52% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $184,961. Median rent is $719/month, with 23.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.

Education

26.0% of adults in Forest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (23% below the national average). 93.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Forest City has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 14°F in January while summers reach 71°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 35.9 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population4,280
Median Age32.0 yrs
Density932/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born6.0%
Veterans3.6%

Economy

A
Median Income$62,917
Per Capita$34,494
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty6.0%
County GDP$690M
Avg Weekly Wage$904

Housing

A+
Home Value$136,400
Rent$719
Ownership72.3%
Zillow$184,961
Housing Units1,827
Rent Burden23.7%

Health

Obesity39.4%
Diabetes9.3%
Smoking15.2%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death5,991/100K

Climate

Avg Temp45°F
Rain35.9 in/yr
Elevation1,261 ft

Education

B
Bachelor's+26.0%
High School+93.3%
Graduate+8.7%
School Score5.8/10

Community

2024 VoteR 65% / D 34%
Commute14 min
Broadband84.7%
Internet Speed76 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries5

Did You Know?

Forest City was founded in 1855.
The median home in Forest City was built in 1970.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (53 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.439 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
10.7% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.