Census-designated place · Virginia
Forest, Virginia
Forest, census-designated place, in Bedford County, Virginia. Forest had 13,430 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±658). GEOID 5128688.
Residents, 2020-2024
13,430
±658 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 11,709
Median household income
$81,552
±$7,145 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$319,800
±$15,122 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,315
±$103 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Forest and what county is it in?
Forest is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Bedford County, Virginia. It covers 13.6 square miles of land, 860 residents per square mile in 2020.
Forest is in the Lynchburg, VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (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, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Forest's population at 13,430 (±658). The 2020 Census counted 11,709 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Forest is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Forest | Bedford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,430 ±658 | 80,894 | +2,594 |
| Households | 5,358 ±287 | 33,127 | +960 |
| Average household size | 2.49 ±0.12 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,460 ±290 | 37,484 | +823 |
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?
The median resident of Forest is 39.2 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 20.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 76.2%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 12.6%. 3.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Forest | Bedford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 ±2.9 | 47.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.0% ±2.6 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.6% ±2.2 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Male | 44.8% ±2.9 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% ±1.6 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 76.2% ±3.4 pts | 85.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 12.6% ±3.7 pts | 6.3% | +5.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±2.1 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.9% ±1.3 pts | 2.8% | −5.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.4% ±1.7 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.4% ±2.3 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 8.1% ±1.9 pts | 12.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.5% ±1.5 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.0% ±1.6 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 45.6% ±4.1 pts | 33.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.0% ±3.2 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.1% ±4.4 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
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 earn?
Half of Forest's 5,358 households earn less than $81,552 a year (±$7,145), against $78,937 in Bedford County and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 the median was $93,984 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $12,432 after inflation. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Forest | Bedford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $81,552 ±$7,145 | $78,937 | −$12,432 |
| Mean household income | $103,831 ±$8,742 | $102,452 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,177 ±$3,705 | $42,461 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.6% ±4.7 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.3% ±13.7 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.9% ±2.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.5% ±2.5 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.6% ±3.1 pts | 88.8% | – |
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?
Owners occupy 75.9% of Forest's occupied homes and renters 24.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $319,800 by its owner (±$15,122). The median renter pays $1,315 a month including utilities, and 42.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Forest | Bedford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $319,800 ±$15,122 | $297,400 | +$31,202 |
| Median gross rent | $1,315 ±$103 | $952 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.9% ±14.1 pts | 40.4% | +17.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,543 ±$126 | $1,522 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 75.9% ±3.5 pts | 84.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 24.1% ±3.5 pts | 15.3% | – |
| Housing units | 5,460 ±290 | 37,484 | +823 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.1% ±6.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 56.8% ±4.5 pts | 78.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% ±1.6 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.5% ±2.3 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 20.2% ±4.1 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.6% ±2.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
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 do people in Forest work and get to work?
80.4% of Forest's workers drive alone and 15.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Forest | Bedford County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.7% ±3.7 pts | 57.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% ±2.0 pts | 3.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.4% ±4.5 pts | 78.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.1% ±1.7 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.6% ±4.3 pts | 12.7% | +10.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.9 min ±2.8 | 26.5 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?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Forest (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,565 (Tract 301.04) to $84,059 (Tract 301.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 301.03Bedford County | 9,260 | $84,059 |
| Tract 301.04Bedford County | 4,704 | $73,565 |
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) · Census block assignment files
How does Forest compare with other places in Virginia?
Forest ranks 189th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 102nd | 374 |
| Residents per square mile | 249th | 374 |
| Median household income | 189th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 177th | 374 |
| Median home value | 193rd | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 182nd | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 139th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 138th | 359 |
| Median age | 187th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 134th | 368 |
| Work from home | 165th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 278th | 372 |
Forest's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Forest 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?
12 of the 57 figures for Forest 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 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' school search.