Living in Forest, Virginia
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Forest · Census data 2020–2024
Forest has 13,430 residents with a median age of 39.2. The median household income is $81,552 (12% lower than the Virginia median), the median home value is $319,800, the median rent is $1,315/month.
Forest at a glance
- Population
- 13,430
- Median age
- 39.2State: 39
- Median household income
- $81,552State: $93,170
- Median home value
- $319,800State: $383,700
- Median rent
- $1,315/moState: $1,579
- Homeowners
- 75.9%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 45.6%
- Average commute
- 22 min
Is Forest a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 17% lower than the state median; an average commute of 22 minutes; unemployment of 3.5%; a poverty rate of 9.6%.
Cons: Median household income 12% lower than the Virginia median.
The weather is best in May–June and August–September.
Cost of living in Forest
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Forest the median home value is $319,800, 4% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $1,315 per month, which is 30.9% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,543 a month in housing costs.
Forest median household income
The median household income in Forest is $81,552 and the income per person is $42,177. 9.6% of residents live below the poverty line (Virginia: 9.9%).
Housing in Forest: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 5,460
- Owner-occupied
- 75.9%
- Renter-occupied
- 24.1%
- Vacant
- 1.9%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1992
- Average household size
- 2.49
Forest demographics
- Population
- 13,430
- Median age
- 39.2
- Under 18
- 20%
- 65 and older
- 20.6%
- Households
- 5,358
- Foreign-born
- 3.9%
- Veterans
- 7.4%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Forest ›
Education in Forest
45.6% of adults 25 and older in Forest have a bachelor's degree or higher (Virginia: 42.2%), and 23% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Forest
- Unemployment rate
- 3.5%State: 4.3%
- Average commute
- 22 minState: 27 min
- Work from home
- 15.6%
- Drive alone
- 80.4%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 0.1%
- Homes with broadband
- 92.6%
Forest vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | 13,430 | $81,552 | $319,800 | $1,315 |
| Timberlake | 12,725 | $75,657 | $235,900 | $1,083 |
| Lynchburg | 79,497 | $57,947 | $229,800 | $1,073 |
| Madison Heights | 10,266 | $60,215 | $191,300 | $871 |
| Rustburg | 1,417 | $72,950 | $263,900 | $910 |
| Bedford | 7,724 | $70,288 | $222,500 | $828 |
| Concord | 1,462 | $71,058 | $227,600 | $771 |
| Altavista | 3,342 | $51,349 | $142,900 | $910 |
| Amherst | 1,865 | $70,841 | $220,700 | $718 |
More for people moving to Forest
Forest ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Forest: FAQ
What is the median household income in Forest, VA?
The median household income in Forest is $81,552, 12% lower than the Virginia median of $93,170 (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 $319,800, compared with $383,700 in Virginia.
How much is rent in Forest?
The median gross rent in Forest is $1,315 per month, about 30.9% of household income.
Is Forest, VA a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 17% lower than the state median; an average commute of 22 minutes; unemployment of 3.5%; a poverty rate of 9.6%. Minuses: median household income 12% lower than the Virginia median.
What is the median age in Forest?
The median age in Forest is 39.2 years (Virginia: 39).
How long is the commute in Forest?
The average commute to work in Forest is 22 minutes; 15.6% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Forest?
The unemployment rate in Forest is 3.5% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Forest?
45.6% 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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