Living in Forreston, Illinois
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Forreston · Census data 2020–2024
Forreston has 1,360 residents with a median age of 40.8. The median household income is $70,676 (15% lower than the Illinois median), the median home value is $129,900, the median rent is $744/month.
Forreston is a small town, so Census survey estimates have wide margins of error. Treat percentages as approximate.
Forreston at a glance
- Population
- 1,360
- Median age
- 40.8State: 39
- Median household income
- $70,676State: $83,390
- Median home value
- $129,900State: $263,300
- Median rent
- $744/moState: $1,274
- Homeowners
- 81.5%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 20.6%
- Average commute
- 27 min
Is Forreston a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 51% lower than the state median; an average commute of 27 minutes; a poverty rate of 5.7%.
Cons: Median household income 15% lower than the Illinois median; unemployment of 7.8%.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Forreston
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Forreston the median home value is $129,900, 61% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $744 per month, which is 25.4% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,154 a month in housing costs.
Forreston median household income
The median household income in Forreston is $70,676 and the income per person is $34,236. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line (Illinois: 11.8%).
Housing in Forreston: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 647
- Owner-occupied
- 81.5%
- Renter-occupied
- 18.5%
- Vacant
- 8.8%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1959
- Average household size
- 2.31
Forreston demographics
- Population
- 1,360
- Median age
- 40.8
- Under 18
- 26.8%
- 65 and older
- 19.4%
- Households
- 590
- Foreign-born
- 1.3%
- Veterans
- 8.7%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Forreston ›
Education in Forreston
20.6% of adults 25 and older in Forreston have a bachelor's degree or higher (Illinois: 37.8%), and 5.1% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Forreston
- Unemployment rate
- 7.8%State: 5.8%
- Average commute
- 27 minState: 28 min
- Work from home
- 8.4%
- Drive alone
- 70.3%
- Public transit
- 1.5%
- Walk to work
- 5.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 84.2%
Forreston vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forreston | 1,360 | $70,676 | $129,900 | $744 |
| German Valley | 467 | $73,661 | $130,300 | $904 |
| Shannon | 772 | $58,929 | $115,100 | $604 |
| Leaf River | 477 | $79,500 | $94,000 | $917 |
| Mount Morris | 2,726 | $45,726 | $121,800 | $512 |
| Polo | 2,495 | $63,080 | $109,600 | $851 |
| Freeport | 23,505 | $51,723 | $92,100 | $793 |
| Ridott | 130 | $71,875 | $126,000 | $850 |
| Lanark | 1,541 | $59,375 | $96,600 | $819 |
More for people moving to Forreston
Forreston ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Forreston: FAQ
What is the median household income in Forreston, IL?
The median household income in Forreston is $70,676, 15% lower than the Illinois median of $83,390 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Forreston?
The median home value in Forreston is $129,900, compared with $263,300 in Illinois.
How much is rent in Forreston?
The median gross rent in Forreston is $744 per month, about 25.4% of household income.
Is Forreston, IL a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 51% lower than the state median; an average commute of 27 minutes; a poverty rate of 5.7%. Minuses: median household income 15% lower than the Illinois median; unemployment of 7.8%.
What is the median age in Forreston?
The median age in Forreston is 40.8 years (Illinois: 39).
How long is the commute in Forreston?
The average commute to work in Forreston is 27 minutes; 8.4% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Forreston?
The unemployment rate in Forreston is 7.8% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Forreston?
20.6% of adults in Forreston have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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