CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Forest City Micro

Forest City, NC · 1 counties · 62,899 residents · 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 $31,122. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $71,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,899
+11%since 1990
from 56,918 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+11%since 1990
from 101 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
38.3
+7%since 1990
from 35.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
56K59K62K66K69K1990201020202024Forest City
202465K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,122
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,828 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,270
+44%since 1990
from $11,287 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
13.9%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 12.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$71,300
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$404
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $310 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
74.5%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 73.0% in 1990
25.5% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+19%since 1990
from 1.9 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(50,140)
Black11.5%(6,555)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(257)
Asian0.1%(56)
Diversity Score27.2%(15,494)
2000
White, non-Hispanic85.8%(53,957)
Black11.2%(7,028)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(1,136)
Asian0.3%(191)
Diversity Score29.6%(18,644)
Diversity Score
30
+9%since 1990
from 27 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 9.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
70.4%
+11.0 ptssince 1990
from 59.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 3.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.9 min
−16%since 1990
from 17.7 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+63%
Home value$153,272+115%
Population67,144+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+65%
Home value$152,700+114%
Population74,085+13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Gaffney
Income$50,288+62%
Home value$142,000+99%
Population58,275−11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST CITY VS
Clewiston
Income$53,987+73%
Home value$200,405+181%
Population61,546−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest City, NC?

Forest City, NC has about 62,899 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Forest City, NC earns about $31,122 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 $71,300, and the typical rent is about $404 a month.

How educated are people in Forest City, NC?

About 12.5% 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 13.9% 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 5,981 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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

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