City profile · Ohio · Census ACS 2023

Forest, OH

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

1,401
Residents
$46,111
Median income
$106,800
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Forest - the verdict

Forest ranks in the 14th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

14th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
12th
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, OH

1,401 people live in Forest, Ohio - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $46,111 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.8%. Forest's housing stock carries a median value of $106,800, and the median resident age is 37.3 years. 13.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Forest (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Ohio run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Ohio scores 92.8 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Ohio's average monthly utility costs around $228 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 17.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

1,401 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Ohio

Median Household Income

$46,111 /yr

Poverty 13.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

92.8 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Ohio average

How does Forest compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% 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 Forest against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Ohio only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Ohio-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Forest near the bottom of Ohio's cities

Among the 1,196 Ohio cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Forest ranks #830 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Forest only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#998 of 1,145
13th percentile in Ohio
Median Gross Rent
#830 of 1,196
0th percentile in Ohio
Median Home Value
#911 of 1,164
22nd percentile in Ohio
Poverty Rate
#288 of 1,196
76th percentile in Ohio
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#804 of 1,196
32nd percentile in Ohio

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 Ohio only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

14thIncome percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Forest's home value compares nationally

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

$106,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% 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. Forest $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, OH Forest, OH's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forest, OH-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, OH median $46,111/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, OH'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, OH. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.6%

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

Population
1,401
Median Income
$46,111
Median Home Value
$106,800
Median Age
37.3
Poverty Rate
13.8%
Labor force participation
70.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.1%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,320 residents1,330 residents1,340 residents1,350 residents1,360 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,355 residents 1,332 residents ▼ -1.7%
Forest's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

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

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
91.4%
Carpool
5.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
3.0%

Based on 771 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$78
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$228
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
92.8
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
17.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Ohio

Winchester
1,402 people
Craig Beach
1,398 people
Lynchburg
1,408 people
Rossmoyne
1,414 people
Continental
1,387 people
Somerset
1,417 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest's 1,401 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

St. Elmo, IL
1,401 people
Lake Winnebago, MO
1,401 people
La Plata, MO
1,401 people
Harbor Isle, NY
1,401 people
Wheeler, TX
1,401 people
Lyndhurst, VA
1,401 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest's $46,111 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sweet Springs, MO
$46,111 median income
Hilda, SC
$46,111 median income
Fruitland, NC
$46,113 median income
Fountain City, IN
$46,106 median income
Ferguson, MO
$46,106 median income
Chaparral, NM
$46,102 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forest, OH 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, OH - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.4% White 95.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.8% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.2% 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 compares to nearby Ohio 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 (this city) 1,401 $46,111
Winchester 1,402 $40,875
Craig Beach 1,398 $67,847
Lynchburg 1,408 $61,094
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OH Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forest, OH?

What is the population of Forest, OH? +

The population of Forest, OH stands at 1,401 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Forest, OH? +

The median household income in Forest is $46,111 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Forest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Forest; the closest available measure is the Ohio state average, a cost of living index of 92.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Ohio vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Forest, OH? +

The median home value in Forest is $106,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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