At a Glance
Median Income
$51,082
$20,570 per capita
Home Value
$129,100
Zillow: $124,677
Median Rent
$695/mo
26.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
707/100K
879/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%
67.5% high school+
Unemployment
6.5%
20.6% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
44.2%
19.8% smoking rate
How Forest Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Forest's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Forest a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Forest residents earn a median household income of $51,082 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $20,570. The unemployment rate stands at 6.5% (81% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 20.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 527 business establishments, including 46 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Forest is $129,100 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $124,677. Median rent is $695/month, with 26.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1979.
Safety & Crime
Forest reports 707 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 86% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 879/100K.
Education
14.7% of adults in Forest hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(56% below the national average).
67.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Forest has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 61.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population5,365
Median Age38.2 yrs
Density410/mi²
Male / Female54% / 46%
Foreign Born16.6%
Veterans4.8%
Economy
C+
Median Income$51,082
Per Capita$20,570
Unemployment6.5%
Poverty20.6%
County GDP$1,446M
Avg Weekly Wage$866
Housing
A+
Home Value$129,100
Rent$695
Ownership50.6%
Zillow$124,677
Housing Units2,354
Rent Burden26.2%
Crime
F
Violent707/100K
Property879/100K
Health
Obesity44.2%
Diabetes17.2%
Smoking19.8%
Heart Disease7.2%
Premature Death14,974/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain61.6 in/yr
Elevation462 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.7%
High School+67.5%
Graduate+4.9%
School Score4.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 62% / D 38%
Commute18 min
Broadband78.2%
Internet Speed83 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
Forest was founded in 1860.
The median home in Forest was built in 1979.
The nearest airport is Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International (35 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.473 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
16.7% of the population has a disability.
16.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 13 fatal vehicle crashes.