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Forest City, NC
Full City Profile · North Carolina · Rutherford County County
2.5
/5.0
C+
Fair
7,368
Population
858/sq mi density
$35,897
Median Income
$21,285 per capita
$142,100
Home Value
$183,519 Zillow
$815
Median Rent
33.8% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
301 sunny days/yr
478
Violent Crime/100K
8,221 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.3 / 5.0
$35,897 median income, 3.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$142,100 home value, $815/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
478 violent crimes/100K (26% above avg)
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
17.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$35,897
52% below
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$21,285
45% below
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
6% above
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
29.6%
139% above
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Forest City vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Forest City’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$35,897
48%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$21,285
55%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$57,859
80%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$925
65%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$925
35% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
27 min
2% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
4.7%
69% below US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
83.0%
13% above US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
0.8%
84% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$2,490M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
83%
Public Transit
0.8%
Work From Home
4.7%
Other
11.5%
Average commute time
27 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
1,498
Restaurants
113
Healthcare
136
Retail
205
Manufacturing
61
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$57,859
20% below US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$3,341
5% below US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $35,897 |
| Per Capita Income | $21,285 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $57,859 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $925 |
| County GDP | $2,490M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 29.6% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.470 |
| Cost of Living Index | 94.3 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 27 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 83.0% |
| Public Transit | 0.8% |
| Work From Home | 4.7% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 1,498 |
| Restaurants | 113 |
| Healthcare | 136 |
| Retail | 205 |
| Manufacturing | 61 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $57,859 |
| Avg Property Tax | $3,341 |