City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Forest City, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Forest City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

4,280
Residents
$62,917
Median income
$136,400
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Forest City - the verdict

Forest City ranks in the 40th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

40th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Forest City, IA

Iowa's Forest City is a small town, with 4,280 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $62,917 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.0%. Typical homes in Forest City are valued around $136,400, and the median resident age is 32.0 years. About 26.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Forest City (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 44.9°F with 35.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Iowa scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $919 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 30.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

4,280 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$62,917 /yr

Poverty 6.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Forest City compare to other US cities?

Forest City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 40% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Forest City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

40thIncome percentile

40th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Forest City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$136,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Forest City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Forest City, IA Forest City, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forest City, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Forest City, IA median $62,917/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Forest City, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Forest City, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 26.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
4,280
Median Income
$62,917
Median Home Value
$136,400
Median Age
32.0
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Labor force participation
66.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
26.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.9°F
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,100 residents4,150 residents4,200 residents4,250 residents4,300 residents4,350 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,269 residents 4,143 residents ▼ -3.0%
Forest City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 2
2021 2
2022 14
2023 1
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.7%
Carpool
9.6%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
6.0%
Other
1.9%

Based on 2,181 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Forest City sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
30.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Hampton
4,311 people
Chariton
4,235 people
Dyersville
4,357 people
Carlisle
4,187 people
Jefferson
4,164 people
Huxley
4,440 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest City's 4,280 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mauston, WI
4,280 people
Orangeburg, NY
4,279 people
Waverly, TN
4,278 people
Haleyville, AL
4,283 people
Slatington, PA
4,277 people
Caro, MI
4,284 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest City's $62,917 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Minto, AK
$62,917 median income
Smithville, AR
$62,917 median income
Thornton, AR
$62,917 median income
Kiowa, CO
$62,917 median income
Winter Park, CO
$62,917 median income
Greenacres, FL
$62,917 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forest City, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Forest City, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.8% 7.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.3% White 87.8% Black or African American 2.1% Asian 7.5% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 1.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Forest City compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Forest City (this city) 4,280 $62,917
Hampton 4,311 $48,922
Chariton 4,235 $52,109
Dyersville 4,357 $72,768
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forest City, IA?

What is the population of Forest City, IA? +

Forest City, IA has a population of 4,280 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Forest City, IA? +

The median household income in Forest City is $62,917 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Forest City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Forest City; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Forest City, IA? +

Forest City's median home value sits at $136,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Forest City? +

The average annual temperature in Forest City runs 44.9°F, 35.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.