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CITY · 2010 ACS

Forest City

North Carolina · 7,476 residents · 8.569 sq mi
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The short version

Forest City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $23,757. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $94,100. The poverty rate of 38.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 48% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 40.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,476
−1%since 2000
from 7,549 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
872 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 881 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
40.0
+6%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K7K8K1990201020202024Forest City
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$23,757
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,243 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,925
+11%since 2000
from $15,248 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
9.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
38.5%
+19.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade17.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Information15.5%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade12.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration0.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,100
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$449
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
28.4%
−23.5 ptssince 2000
from 51.8% in 2000
51.7% rent
Vacancy rate
13.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
31.5%
+9.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.8%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 43.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
4.0
+56%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic65.4%(4,935)
Black28.7%(2,168)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(281)
Asian0.6%(47)
Other0%
Diversity Score59%(4,457)
2010
White, non-Hispanic63.6%(4,752)
Black23.8%(1,776)
Hispanic / Latino9%(675)
Asian0.9%(64)
Other2.4%(176)
Diversity Score65.8%(4,921)
Diversity Score
66
+11%since 2000
from 59 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
69.1%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 64.9% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
1.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+40%since 2000
from 12.6 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
70.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
25.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 27.7% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
15.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
24.3%
−30.9 ptssince 2009
from 55.2% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
41.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
58.4%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
6.8%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

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Compare Forest City to nearby cities

FOREST CITY VS
Shelby
Income$48,376+104%
Home value$197,200+110%
Population23,309+215%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Boiling Springs
Income$72,068+203%
Home value$244,400+160%
Population12,936+75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Gaffney
Income$41,089+73%
Home value$137,700+46%
Population12,583+70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
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Income$55,661+134%
Home value$256,600+173%
Population8,239+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest City, North Carolina?

Forest City, North Carolina has about 7,476 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest City, North Carolina?

The typical household in Forest City, North Carolina earns about $23,757 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest City, North Carolina expensive?

In Forest City, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $94,100, and the typical rent is about $449 a month.

How educated are people in Forest City, North Carolina?

About 8.3% of adults age 25 and over in Forest City, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest City, North Carolina?

About 38.5% of people in Forest City, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest City, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest City, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1 residents, a change of about 0 percent over that period.

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

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