Town · North Carolina
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest City, town, in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Forest City had 7,410 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 7,377 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 7,363 (±34). GEOID 3724080.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,410
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 7,377 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,363 ±34
Median household income
$35,524
±$5,910 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$160,800
±$19,341 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$813
±$58 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Forest City and what county is it in?
Forest City is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina. It covers 8.6 square miles of land, 858 residents per square mile in 2020.
Forest City is in the Forest City, NC micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Forest City, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 7,410 people lived in Forest City on July 1, 2025, up 0.8% since 2020, slower than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 7,377 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 7,363 (±34).
| Measure | Forest City | Rutherford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,363 ±34 | 64,930 | +208 |
| Households | 2,681 ±246 | 26,642 | −447 |
| Average household size | 2.70 ±0.24 | 2.39 | +0.44 |
| Housing units | 3,335 ±272 | 32,775 | no clear change |
Forest City's population since 2000
From 7,549 in 2000 to 7,410 in 2025: down 1.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Forest City as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Forest City?
The median resident of Forest City is 35.1 years old; 26.6% are under 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 55.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 21.8%.
| Measure | Forest City | Rutherford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 ±5.6 | 45.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 26.6% ±3.0 pts | 20.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.0% ±2.9 pts | 22.3% | – |
| Male | 46.0% ±3.8 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10.5% ±4.9 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 55.6% ±6.8 pts | 80.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 21.8% ±5.1 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.3% ±3.8 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±2.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.6% ±3.8 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 8.6% ±5.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2% ±2.4 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 23.5% ±4.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.1% ±3.9 pts | 12.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.9% ±4.2 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 14.7% ±4.2 pts | 21.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.4% ±3.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.8% ±3.7 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7% ±0.6 pts | 2.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Forest City earn?
Half of Forest City's 2,681 households earn less than $35,524 a year (±$5,910), against $51,410 in Rutherford County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 it was $33,954 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 32.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Forest City | Rutherford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $35,524 ±$5,910 | $51,410 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $54,315 ±$11,622 | $72,230 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,314 ±$4,614 | $30,460 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 32.1% ±6.8 pts | 16.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 37.1% ±11.8 pts | 20.2% | −23.3 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 43.0% ±7.5 pts | 19.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.4% ±4.7 pts | 89.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.1% ±5.5 pts | 82.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Forest City?
Owners occupy 45.4% of Forest City's occupied homes and renters 54.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $160,800 by its owner (±$19,341). The median renter pays $813 a month including utilities, and 49.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Forest City | Rutherford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $160,800 ±$19,341 | $201,800 | +$36,008 |
| Median gross rent | $813 ±$58 | $783 | +$84 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 49.9% ±10.7 pts | 38.2% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,131 ±$288 | $1,226 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 45.4% ±8.1 pts | 73.9% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 54.6% ±8.1 pts | 26.1% | – |
| Housing units | 3,335 ±272 | 32,775 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.6% ±4.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.2% ±3.2 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 70.6% ±6.1 pts | 72.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% ±3.0 pts | 17.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.6% ±2.9 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% ±4.6 pts | 5.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Forest City building?
Builders took permits for 40 new housing units in Forest City in 2025 (30 in single-family houses), 5.4 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Forest City work and get to work?
80.5% of Forest City's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 26.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.
| Measure | Forest City | Rutherford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.6% ±5.0 pts | 54.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.5% ±3.6 pts | 6.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.5% ±7.0 pts | 79.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.1% ±5.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±1.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.7% ±3.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0% ±4.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.3 min ±3.1 | 26.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Forest City?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Forest City, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $31,755 (Tract 9608) to $49,034 (Tract 9607).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9608Rutherford County | 4,561 | $31,755 |
| Tract 9607Rutherford County | 4,071 | $49,034 |
| Tract 9609Rutherford County | 4,919 | $40,648 |
| Tract 9606Rutherford County | 4,161 | $41,896 |
| Tract 9611.04Rutherford County | 2,426 | $39,922 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Forest City) · Census block assignment files
How does Forest City compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Forest City is the 3,924th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 117th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Forest City ranks 415th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 117th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 264th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 237th | 443 |
| Median household income | 415th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 411th | 443 |
| Median home value | 358th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 305th | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 30th | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 364th | 421 |
| Median age | 377th | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 412th | 443 |
| Travel time to work | 148th | 439 |
Forest City's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Forest City with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Forest City?
13 of the 57 figures for Forest City on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Forest City are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Forest City.