City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Forsyth, IL

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

3,656
Residents
$113,456
Median income
$289,800
Median home
$1,063
Median rent (state)

Forsyth - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Forsyth lands in the 85th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

85th
percentile, household income
63rd
percentile, home value
25th
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: Forsyth, IL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,656 residents in Forsyth, a small town within Illinois. The typical household in Forsyth brings in $113,456 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 6.8%. Forsyth's housing stock carries a median value of $289,800, and the median resident age is 41.9 years. Educational attainment runs 58.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 75% from five years earlier.

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Illinois scores 100.0 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,063 per month. 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 83.3 out of 100 (High).

Population

3,656 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$113,456 /yr

Poverty 6.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Forsyth compare to other US cities?

Here's how Forsyth stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 85% higher than other cities
Home value 63% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% 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

Each percentile compares Forsyth against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Illinois only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Illinois-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Forsyth's strongest outlier among Illinois cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Forsyth ranks #73 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Forsyth only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#132 of 1,311
90th percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#642 of 1,336
51st percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#168 of 1,315
87th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#697 of 1,335
47th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#73 of 1,336
95th percentile in Illinois

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

85thIncome percentile

85th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Forsyth's home value compares nationally

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

$289,800 37th percentile more affordable than 37% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Forsyth $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 - Forsyth, IL Forsyth, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forsyth, 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 Forsyth, IL median $113,456/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%
Forsyth, 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 Forsyth, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 58.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.4%

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

Population
3,656
Median Income
$113,456
Median Home Value
$289,800
Median Age
41.9
Poverty Rate
6.8%
Labor force participation
54.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
58.7%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,600 residents3,650 residents3,700 residents3,750 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,733 residents 3,613 residents ▼ -3.2%
Forsyth's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 8
2020 5
2021 4
2022 2
2023 3
2024 2

Permit volume decreased 75% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.7%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.1%
Work from Home
6.6%

Based on 1,451 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 Forsyth sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,063/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Fairbury
3,683 people
Gibson City
3,609 people
Deer Park
3,711 people
Oglesby
3,723 people
Byron
3,742 people
Aledo
3,753 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forsyth's 3,656 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North River Shores, FL
3,655 people
Minoa, NY
3,657 people
Yellow Springs, OH
3,655 people
Lake Isabella, CA
3,654 people
Romeo, MI
3,654 people
Northwoods, MO
3,654 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forsyth's $113,456 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Wallace, CA
$113,462 median income
Fair Play, SC
$113,466 median income
Madera Ranchos, CA
$113,472 median income
Daniel, UT
$113,438 median income
McCordsville, IN
$113,495 median income
Johnsonburg, NJ
$113,500 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forsyth, 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 Forsyth, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.7% 6.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.5% White 88.7% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 4.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.4% 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 Forsyth 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
Forsyth (this city) 3,656 $113,456
Fairbury 3,683 $65,215
Gibson City 3,609 $47,104
Deer Park 3,711 $160,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forsyth, IL?

What is the population of Forsyth, IL? +

3,656 people live in Forsyth, IL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Forsyth, the typical household earns $113,456 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Forsyth? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Forsyth; 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 Forsyth, IL? +

A typical home in Forsyth is worth $289,800, 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

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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.