At a Glance
Median Income
$70,417
$33,871 per capita
Home Value
$104,000
Zillow: $179,979
Median Rent
$663/mo
20.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
18.5%
90.2% high school+
Unemployment
0.6%
9.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.9%
14.7% smoking rate
How Forrest Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Forrest's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Forrest a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Forrest residents earn a median household income of $70,417 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,871. The unemployment rate stands at 0.6% (83% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 865 business establishments, including 80 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Forrest is $104,000 , 63% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $179,979. Median rent is $663/month, with 20.3% 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 1959.
Education
18.5% of adults in Forrest hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(45% below the national average).
90.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Forrest has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 35.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,008
Median Age32.6 yrs
Density1,551/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born0.3%
Veterans8.3%
Economy
A
Median Income$70,417
Per Capita$33,871
Unemployment0.6%
Poverty9.8%
County GDP$2,895M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,086
Housing
A+
Home Value$104,000
Rent$663
Ownership79.8%
Zillow$179,979
Housing Units482
Rent Burden20.3%
Health
Obesity35.9%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking14.7%
Heart Disease5.3%
Premature Death9,425/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain35.5 in/yr
Elevation687 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.5%
High School+90.2%
Graduate+4.8%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 72% / D 26%
Commute30 min
Broadband91.8%
Internet Speed57 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Forrest was founded in 1866.
The median home in Forrest was built in 1959.
The nearest airport is Central Il Regional/Bloomington-Normal (33 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.416 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.2% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 6 fatal vehicle crashes.