CensusEasy
CITY

Forrest

Illinois · 1,015 residents (2025 est.) · 0.648 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Pontiac micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Forrest has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,426. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 231 residents. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $113,000. At a median age of 34.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
994
−19%since 2000
from 1,225 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,534 / sq mi
−19%since 2000
from 1,890 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.1
−8%since 2000
from 37.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,015 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9711K1K1K1K1990201020202024Forrest
2024994
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,426
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,677 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,101
+104%since 2000
from $17,707 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.1%
+15.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.380
−3%since 2010
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing5.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$113,000
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$730
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $444 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.0%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 73.2% in 2000
21.0% rent
Vacancy rate
2.4%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.0%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
10.9%
−30.6 ptssince 2009
from 41.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.5
−13%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forrest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(1,165)
Black0.6%(7)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(33)
Asian0.2%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score8.4%(104)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(856)
Black0.4%(4)
Hispanic / Latino10.3%(102)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.2%(32)
Diversity Score30.9%(307)
Diversity Score
31
+265%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.9%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.6%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.0 min
+48%since 2000
from 17.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.7%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.2%
−11.1 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 67.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.4%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.2%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 55.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
47.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.7%
−40.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2012
from 13.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−85.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+23.4 ptssince 2017
from 69.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2016
from 94.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forrest

Plantation Mobile Home Park
Pop 1,032
Bradenton Beach
Pop 921
Greenwood
Pop 1,153
Southport
Pop 873
Places similar to Forrest
Head to head

Compare Forrest to nearby cities

FORREST VS
Pontiac
Income$61,279−17%
Home value$116,300+3%
Population10,806+965%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST VS
Rantoul
Income$48,691−34%
Home value$118,200+5%
Population11,991+1081%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST VS
Streator
Income$57,609−22%
Home value$94,700−16%
Population12,190+1101%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORREST VS
Normal
Income$64,785−12%
Home value$213,600+89%
Population53,275+5149%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forrest, Illinois?

Forrest, Illinois has about 994 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forrest, Illinois?

The typical household in Forrest, Illinois earns about $73,426 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forrest, Illinois expensive?

In Forrest, Illinois, the median home is worth about $113,000, and the typical rent is about $730 a month.

How educated are people in Forrest, Illinois?

About 18.9% of adults age 25 and over in Forrest, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forrest, Illinois?

About 10.0% of people in Forrest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forrest, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Forrest, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 130 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Illinois
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Forrest with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →