CensusEasy
CITY

Forreston

Illinois · 1,402 residents (2025 est.) · 0.943 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Rochelle micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Forreston has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,676. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 21% 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 $129,900. Poverty is rare here, at 5.7% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,360
−7%since 2000
from 1,469 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,442 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 1,558 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.8
+10%since 2000
from 37.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,402 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K2K2K1990201020202024Forreston
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,676
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,554 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,236
+102%since 2000
from $16,958 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.3%
+28.8 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.7%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.361
−8%since 2010
from 0.392 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$129,900
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$744
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $409 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.4% in 2000
18.5% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
23.9%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 41.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
−15%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
50
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forreston on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(1,441)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(18)
Asian0.2%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.5%(52)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(1,175)
Black1.8%(25)
Hispanic / Latino8.2%(112)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.5%(48)
Diversity Score30.6%(417)
Diversity Score
31
+764%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.6%
+5.3 ptssince 2000
from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.8%
+9.6 ptssince 2000
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.0 min
+95%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.3%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.1%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.8%
−11.6 ptssince 2011
from 19.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.2%
−10.4 ptssince 2011
from 72.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.0%
−33.1 ptssince 2009
from 65.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
52.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.7%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.9%
+5.6 ptssince 2012
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−84.7 ptssince 2013
from 89.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+9.1 ptssince 2017
from 75.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forreston

Heritage Pines
Pop 1,477
Boulevard Gardens
Pop 1,499
Key Vista
Pop 1,418
Molino
Pop 1,447
Places similar to Forreston
Head to head

Compare Forreston to nearby cities

FORRESTON VS
Freeport
Income$51,723−27%
Home value$92,100−29%
Population23,202+1555%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORRESTON VS
Dixon
Income$59,406−16%
Home value$120,800−7%
Population14,582+940%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORRESTON VS
Sterling
Income$57,350−19%
Home value$108,700−16%
Population14,394+927%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORRESTON VS
Rock Falls
Income$49,600−30%
Home value$83,900−35%
Population8,521+508%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forreston, Illinois?

Forreston, Illinois has about 1,360 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forreston, Illinois?

The typical household in Forreston, Illinois earns about $70,676 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forreston, Illinois expensive?

In Forreston, Illinois, the median home is worth about $129,900, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.

How educated are people in Forreston, Illinois?

About 20.6% of adults age 25 and over in Forreston, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forreston, Illinois?

About 5.7% of people in Forreston, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forreston, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Forreston, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 14 residents, a change of about 1 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →