Forest is a city of 13,430 people in Virginia. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 5,424 people. About 46% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Owners hold 76% of the housing stock. 4% of people here were born outside the United States. People stay put here: 81% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Average income
median household income $81,552, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Forest
What changed most since 1990
Population5,624 → 13,430(+139%)US over the same years: +35%
Adults with a bachelor's degree38.7% → 45.6%(+6.9 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Black share4.1% → 12.6%(+8.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)28%(222)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20.2%(160)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era21.6%(171)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War14%(111)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.1%(9)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 792 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Forest, decade by decade
Forest population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
5,624
$100,539
$225,606
38.7%
14.2
2000
8,006
$100,353
$246,106
39.5%
20.8
2010
9,106
$80,761
$299,079
40.8%
32.0
2020
11,709
$92,237
$300,586
46.2%
40.3
2024
13,430
$81,552
$319,800
45.6%
49.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
