Living in Forest, Mississippi
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Forest · Census data 2020–2024
Forest has 5,357 residents with a median age of 36. The median household income is $49,724 (12% lower than the Mississippi median), the median home value is $141,100, the median rent is $900/month.
Forest at a glance
- Population
- 5,357
- Median age
- 36State: 38.6
- Median household income
- $49,724State: $56,447
- Median home value
- $141,100State: $169,800
- Median rent
- $900/moState: $954
- Homeowners
- 50.8%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 19.9%
- Average commute
- 20 min
Is Forest a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 17% lower than the state median; an average commute of 20 minutes; unemployment of 4.1%.
Cons: Median household income 12% lower than the Mississippi median; a poverty rate of 33.8%.
The weather is best in April–May and September–October.
Cost of living in Forest
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Forest the median home value is $141,100, 58% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $900 per month, which is 32.9% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,403 a month in housing costs.
Forest median household income
The median household income in Forest is $49,724 and the income per person is $22,252. 33.8% of residents live below the poverty line (Mississippi: 18.9%).
Housing in Forest: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 1,983
- Owner-occupied
- 50.8%
- Renter-occupied
- 49.2%
- Vacant
- 15.2%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1977
- Average household size
- 3.13
Forest demographics
- Population
- 5,357
- Median age
- 36
- Under 18
- 32.7%
- 65 and older
- 13.1%
- Households
- 1,682
- Foreign-born
- 17.7%
- Veterans
- 3.7%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Forest ›
Education in Forest
19.9% of adults 25 and older in Forest have a bachelor's degree or higher (Mississippi: 25.1%), and 10.5% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Forest
- Unemployment rate
- 4.1%State: 5.8%
- Average commute
- 20 minState: 26 min
- Work from home
- 0%
- Drive alone
- 85.9%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 3.4%
- Homes with broadband
- 83%
Forest vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5,357 | $49,724 | $141,100 | $900 |
| Hillsboro | 999 | $44,662 | $74,500 | — |
| Lake | 522 | $32,143 | $77,000 | $729 |
| Morton | 3,656 | $41,863 | $84,200 | $913 |
| Walnut Grove | 737 | $42,634 | $85,900 | $535 |
| Sebastopol | 212 | $52,500 | $112,500 | $821 |
| Polkville | 713 | $67,031 | $97,500 | $800 |
| Lena | 169 | $96,786 | $109,100 | — |
| Newton | 3,116 | $32,157 | $88,800 | $423 |
More for people moving to Forest
Forest ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Forest: FAQ
What is the median household income in Forest, MS?
The median household income in Forest is $49,724, 12% lower than the Mississippi median of $56,447 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Forest?
The median home value in Forest is $141,100, compared with $169,800 in Mississippi.
How much is rent in Forest?
The median gross rent in Forest is $900 per month, about 32.9% of household income.
Is Forest, MS a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 17% lower than the state median; an average commute of 20 minutes; unemployment of 4.1%. Minuses: median household income 12% lower than the Mississippi median; a poverty rate of 33.8%.
What is the median age in Forest?
The median age in Forest is 36 years (Mississippi: 38.6).
How long is the commute in Forest?
The average commute to work in Forest is 20 minutes; 0% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Forest?
The unemployment rate in Forest is 4.1% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Forest?
19.9% of adults in Forest 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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