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CITY

Forest

Virginia · 13,430 residents · 13.6 sq mi
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The short version

Forest has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,552. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 68% since 2000. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $319,800.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 30%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,430
+68%since 2000
from 8,006 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
988 / sq mi
+68%since 2000
from 589 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.2
+4%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K7K10K12K14K1990201020202024Forest
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,552
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,089 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,177
+64%since 2000
from $25,735 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.4%
+16.7 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.6%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
−1%since 2010
from 0.415 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services10%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration9%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$319,800
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $135,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,315
+61%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $447 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.9%
−5.6 ptssince 2000
from 81.5% in 2000
24.1% rent
Vacancy rate
1.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.8%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.2%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+60%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.1%(7,294)
Black5.6%(451)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(76)
Asian1.4%(109)
Other0%
Diversity Score18.8%(1,506)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.2%(10,234)
Black12.6%(1,697)
Hispanic / Latino3%(397)
Asian1.8%(244)
Other6.4%(858)
Diversity Score49.8%(6,683)
Diversity Score
50
+165%since 2000
from 19 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 39.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 94.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.9 min
+90%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.4%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 87.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.1%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.6%
+10.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% 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
2.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 3.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.7%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.2%
+8.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
51.4%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 68.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
44.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
55.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 7.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.5%
−90.2 ptssince 2013
from 93.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2017
from 88.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 91.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forest

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Pop 13,505
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Pop 13,026
Fruitville
Pop 15,172
Places similar to Forest
Head to head

Compare Forest to nearby cities

FOREST VS
Timberlake
Income$75,657−7%
Home value$235,900−26%
Population12,725−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST VS
Lynchburg
Income$57,947−29%
Home value$229,800−28%
Population81,347+506%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST VS
Madison Heights
Income$60,215−26%
Home value$191,300−40%
Population10,266−24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST VS
Hollins
Income$77,456−5%
Home value$244,300−24%
Population17,097+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest, Virginia?

Forest, Virginia has about 13,430 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest, Virginia?

The typical household in Forest, Virginia earns about $81,552 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest, Virginia expensive?

In Forest, Virginia, the median home is worth about $319,800, and the typical rent is about $1,315 a month.

How educated are people in Forest, Virginia?

About 45.6% of adults age 25 and over in Forest, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest, Virginia?

About 9.6% of people in Forest, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest, Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest, Virginia has grown since 1990. The population has added about 7,806 residents, a change of about 139 percent over that period.

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

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