City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Forest City, PA

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.

1,700
Residents
$58,125
Median income
$138,500
Median home
$1,132
Median rent (state)

Forest City - the verdict

Forest City ranks in the 32nd percentile for household income and the 98th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

32nd
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
31st
percentile, median rent
98th
percentile, safety
📝 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, PA

Forest City is a small town in Pennsylvania, home to 1,700 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Forest City households earn a median of $58,125 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.5%. Typical homes in Forest City are valued around $138,500, and the median resident age is 45.9 years. 16.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 49.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). Forest City reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 83.5 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,132 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $260 across Pennsylvania, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 56.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

1,700 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$58,125 /yr

Poverty 18.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Forest City compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% pricier than other cities
Safety 98% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Pennsylvania alone, Forest City ranks #38 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Pennsylvania-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Forest City toward the top of Pennsylvania's cities

Among the 1,856 Pennsylvania cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Forest City ranks #201 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Forest City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,176 of 1,765
33rd percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Gross Rent
#1,228 of 1,865
33rd percentile in Pennsylvania
Median Home Value
#1,149 of 1,790
36th percentile in Pennsylvania
Poverty Rate
#201 of 1,856
89th percentile in Pennsylvania
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,267 of 1,861
31st percentile in Pennsylvania

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

32ndIncome percentile
98thSafety percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income · 98th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Forest City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Forest City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 68 Avg. percentile National median
Forest City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Forest City's home value compares nationally

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

$138,500 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, PA Forest City, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forest City, PA-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, PA median $58,125/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, PA'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, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.3%

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

Population
1,700
Median Income
$58,125
Median Home Value
$138,500
Median Age
45.9
Poverty Rate
18.5%
Labor force participation
49.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
83.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
11.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
71.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

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 →
1,720 residents1,740 residents1,760 residents1,780 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,775 residents 1,741 residents ▼ -1.9%
Forest City'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 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
69.9%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.4%
Work from Home
14.6%
Other
2.9%

Based on 680 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,132/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
56.3 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Cheswick
1,704 people
Port Carbon
1,696 people
Eddington
1,714 people
Orchard Hills
1,686 people
Homer City
1,716 people
Canton
1,717 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest City's 1,700 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Congress, AZ
1,700 people
Grand Marais, MN
1,700 people
London, CA
1,701 people
Cairo, IL
1,699 people
De Soto, IL
1,701 people
Crothersville, IN
1,701 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest City's $58,125 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Horn Hill, AL
$58,125 median income
Manokotak, AK
$58,125 median income
Pinal, AZ
$58,125 median income
Lewiston, CA
$58,125 median income
Hotchkiss, CO
$58,125 median income
Chesterfield, IN
$58,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forest City, PA 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, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.8% 6.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.8% White 91.8% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 6.1% 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 Pennsylvania 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) 1,700 $58,125
Cheswick 1,704 $75,385
Port Carbon 1,696 $58,750
Eddington 1,714 $107,727
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forest City, PA?

What is the population of Forest City, PA? +

1,700 people live in Forest City, PA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Forest City is $58,125 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 Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is Forest City, PA safe? +

Forest City has a total crime rate of 83.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

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

The median home value in Forest City is $138,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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