Forrest City, AR

Full City Profile · Arkansas · St. Francis County County

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
12,826 Population 633/sq mi density
$33,522 Median Income $17,056 per capita
$87,800 Home Value $78,031 Zillow
$795 Median Rent 33.8% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
F
Economy
1.3 / 5.0
$33,522 median income, 10.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$87,800 home value, $795/mo rent
D
Education
1.9 / 5.0
11.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Forrest City, AR

At a Glance

Median Income
$33,522
55% below
$17,056 per capita
Home Value
$87,800
69% below
Zillow: $78,031
Median Rent
$795/mo
32% below
33.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
11.7%
65% below
83.4% high school+
Unemployment
10.6%
194% above
31.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
51.6%
61% above
25.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F

How Forrest City Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
45%
Home Value
31%
Rent
68%
Poverty
254%
Bachelor's
35%
Unemployment
294%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Forrest City 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

Forrest City residents earn a median household income of $33,522 , which is 55% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $17,056. The unemployment rate stands at 10.6% (194% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 31.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 585 business establishments, including 40 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Forrest City is $87,800 , 69% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $78,031. Median rent is $795/month, with 33.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 86.9 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.

Education

11.7% of adults in Forrest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (65% below the national average). 83.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Forrest City has an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 40°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 51.8 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population12,826
Median Age36.2 yrs
Density633/mi²
Male / Female59% / 41%
Foreign Born2.9%
Veterans4.0%

Economy

F
Median Income$33,522
Per Capita$17,056
Unemployment10.6%
Poverty31.5%
County GDP$943M
Avg Weekly Wage$934

Housing

A+
Home Value$87,800
Rent$795
Ownership38.0%
Zillow$78,031
Housing Units4,640
Rent Burden33.8%

Health

Obesity51.6%
Diabetes19.7%
Smoking25.1%
Heart Disease8.9%
Premature Death15,430/100K

Climate

Avg Temp62°F
Rain51.8 in/yr
Elevation248 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+11.7%
High School+83.4%
Graduate+4.8%
School Score3.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 49% / D 49%
Commute15 min
Broadband83.2%
Internet Speed18 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries1

Did You Know?

Forrest City was founded in 1870.
The median home in Forrest City was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Memphis International (46 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.499 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
23.4% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 9 fatal vehicle crashes.