City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Forrest, IL

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

1,008
Residents
$70,417
Median income
$104,000
Median home
$1,018
Median rent (state)

Forrest - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Forrest places in the 50th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

50th
percentile, household income
11th
percentile, home value
21st
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: Forrest, IL

1,008 people live in Forrest, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Forrest brings in $70,417 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.8%. Typical homes in Forrest are valued around $104,000, and the median resident age is 32.6 years. 18.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Forrest (Low Activity), per Census BPS data.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,018 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 71.8 out of 100 (High).

Population

1,008 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$70,417 /yr

Poverty 9.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Forrest compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 11% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% 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 Forrest'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 Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

50thIncome percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Forrest's home value compares nationally

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

$104,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 89% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Forrest $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 - Forrest, IL Forrest, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forrest, IL-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 Forrest, IL median $70,417/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%
Forrest, IL'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 Forrest, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.8%

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

Population
1,008
Median Income
$70,417
Median Home Value
$104,000
Median Age
32.6
Poverty Rate
9.8%
Labor force participation
62.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.5%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,010 residents1,020 residents1,030 residents1,040 residents1,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,043 residents 1,015 residents ▼ -2.7%
Forrest's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

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

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.0%
Carpool
6.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
4.7%
Other
1.7%

Based on 486 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois 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 Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Forrest sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,018/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
71.8 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Wenona
1,006 people
Hamel
1,004 people
Rapids City
1,012 people
Percy
1,014 people
Ashland
1,001 people
Minier
999 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forrest's 1,008 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hooper Bay, AK
1,008 people
Genoa, AR
1,008 people
Marvell, AR
1,008 people
Plumerville, AR
1,008 people
Kittery Point, ME
1,008 people
Avonmore, PA
1,008 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forrest's $70,417 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Pinion Pines, AZ
$70,417 median income
Campbell Station, AR
$70,417 median income
Lewisville, ID
$70,417 median income
Menan, ID
$70,417 median income
Harper, IA
$70,417 median income
Bruce Crossing, MI
$70,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forrest, IL 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 Forrest, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 92.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.5% Two or more races 3.8% 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 Forrest compares to nearby Illinois cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Forrest (this city) 1,008 $70,417
Wenona 1,006 $40,921
Hamel 1,004 $105,313
Rapids City 1,012 $90,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forrest, IL?

What is the population of Forrest, IL? +

The population of Forrest, IL stands at 1,008 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Forrest, IL? +

In Forrest, the typical household earns $70,417 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Forrest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Forrest; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Forrest, IL? +

A typical home in Forrest is worth $104,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.