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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Forest City Micro

Forest City, NC · 1 counties · 65,745 residents (2025 est.) · 565.437 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 $51,410. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $201,800. With a median age of 45.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
64,930
+3%since 2000
from 62,899 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
115 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 111 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.3
+18%since 2000
from 38.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:65,745 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
56K59K62K66K69K1990201020202024Forest City
202465K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,410
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,122 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,460
+87%since 2000
from $16,270 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.3%
+18.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.8%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+4%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$201,800
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$783
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.5% in 2000
26.1% rent
Vacancy rate
18.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 36.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+71%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
59
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.8%(53,957)
Black11.2%(7,028)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(1,136)
Asian0.3%(191)
Other0%
Diversity Score29.6%(18,644)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.8%(52,457)
Black7.7%(4,984)
Hispanic / Latino5.7%(3,698)
Asian0.5%(304)
Other5.4%(3,487)
Diversity Score41.9%(27,210)
Segregation Score30.8%(20,024)
Diversity Score
42
+41%since 2000
from 30 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
31
+1%since 2020
from 31 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.5%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.2%
+16.9 ptssince 2000
from 70.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+75%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.7%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.6%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% 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
5.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.3%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 56.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.2%
−27.3 ptssince 2009
from 59.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Female
51.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Foreign born
3.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2012
from 20.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.0%
−70.0 ptssince 2013
from 82.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.9%
+19.7 ptssince 2017
from 63.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 95.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Forest CityCENTRAL7,410
What's inside

1 component county

Rutherford CountyCENTRAL65,745
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Forest City

Columbus
Pop 67,144
Fort Payne
Pop 74,085
Gaffney
Pop 58,275
Clewiston
Pop 61,546
Places similar to Forest City
Head to head

Compare Forest City side by side

FOREST CITY VS
Columbus
Income$50,861−1%
Home value$153,272−24%
Population67,144+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204same
Home value$152,700−24%
Population74,085+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288−2%
Home value$142,000−30%
Population58,275−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Clewiston
Income$53,987+5%
Home value$200,405−1%
Population61,546−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest City, NC?

Forest City, NC has about 64,930 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest City, NC?

The typical household in Forest City, NC earns about $51,410 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest City, NC expensive?

In Forest City, NC, the median home is worth about $201,800, and the typical rent is about $783 a month.

How educated are people in Forest City, NC?

About 21.5% of adults age 25 and over in Forest City, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest City, NC?

About 16.8% of people in Forest City, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest City, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest City, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,012 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →