Forest City, IL

Full City Profile · Illinois · Mason County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
225 Population 433/sq mi density
$63,125 Median Income $28,239 per capita
$70,000 Home Value $87,726 Zillow
$920 Median Rent 16.3% income on rent
53°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.0 / 5.0
$63,125 median income, 18.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$70,000 home value, $920/mo rent
C
Education
2.1 / 5.0
13.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Forest City, IL

At a Glance

Median Income
$63,125
16% below
$28,239 per capita
Home Value
$70,000
75% below
Zillow: $87,726
Median Rent
$920/mo
21% below
16.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
13.4%
60% below
91.7% high school+
Unemployment
18.3%
408% above
27.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.0%
15% above
16.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
53°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
25%
Rent
79%
Poverty
220%
Bachelor's
40%
Unemployment
508%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Forest City a Good Place to Live?

B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Forest City residents earn a median household income of $63,125 , which is 16% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,239. The unemployment rate stands at 18.3% (408% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 27.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 298 business establishments, including 34 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Forest City is $70,000 , 75% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $87,726. Median rent is $920/month, with 16.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1960.

Education

13.4% of adults in Forest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (60% below the national average). 91.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Forest City has an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 41.0 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population225
Median Age38.6 yrs
Density433/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans16.5%

Economy

C
Median Income$63,125
Per Capita$28,239
Unemployment18.3%
Poverty27.3%
County GDP$634M
Avg Weekly Wage$813

Housing

A+
Home Value$70,000
Rent$920
Ownership71.0%
Zillow$87,726
Housing Units88
Rent Burden16.3%

Health

Obesity37.0%
Diabetes9.8%
Smoking16.7%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death10,740/100K

Climate

Avg Temp53°F
Rain41.0 in/yr
Elevation492 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+13.4%
High School+91.7%
Graduate+0.7%
School Score5.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 70% / D 28%
Commute31 min
Broadband89.2%
Internet Speed38 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3

Did You Know?

The median home in Forest City was built in 1960.
The nearest airport is General Downing - Peoria International (21 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.438 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
16.4% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.