Population 6,715 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Forest County
Household size in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.82 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.02 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.63 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Forest County is a place of small households, averaging 2.19 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.82, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Pennsylvania counties have smaller households: only two of 67.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.5 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.1 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.0 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Forest County skews older: half of its residents are older than 51.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 42.1, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Forest County: 3.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Forest County has the lowest share of single-parent households of any Pennsylvania county.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Forest County
Renters in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Forest County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 75.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 7.5 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.3% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 70.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 74.6% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 70.0% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 70.0% of the housing in Forest County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Forest County has the highest vacancy rate of any Pennsylvania county.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Forest County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1970, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $511 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $559 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $777 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $781 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$270 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in Forest County pays $781 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $270 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.2% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the north and lowest in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Forest County
Bachelor's degrees in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.0% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Forest County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 13.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Pennsylvania county has a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.8% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 82.2% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 85.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in Forest County never finished high school, more than nationally: 85.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points, mirroring the country. Few Pennsylvania counties have a lower share of high school graduates: only three of 67.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.3 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Forest County has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of Pennsylvania's 67 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 8.3 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Forest County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County | 2.19 | 51.1 | 3.9% | 21.7% | 70.0% | 1970 | $781 | 13.0% | 85.6% | 2.3% |
| Venango County | 2.29 | 47.6 | 10.6% | 24.7% | 16.8% | 1960 | $838 | 18.7% | 91.4% | 5.6% |
| Elk County | 2.29 | 48.0 | 9.5% | 20.5% | 15.5% | 1963 | $733 | 21.2% | 94.2% | 5.5% |
| Cameron County | 1.99 | 52.7 | 11.8% | 27.6% | 29.3% | 1958 | $766 | 12.8% | 92.2% | 7.9% |
| Geauga County | 2.76 | 44.6 | 5.7% | 12.8% | 5.6% | 1978 | $1,361 | 40.7% | 90.2% | 2.9% |
| Cuyahoga County | 2.30 | 41.7 | 13.2% | 40.6% | 9.7% | 1959 | $1,234 | 36.9% | 91.4% | 6.9% |
| Sullivan County | 2.19 | 56.0 | 5.5% | 15.1% | 51.6% | 1972 | $846 | 22.1% | 92.6% | 6.0% |
| Lorain County | 2.49 | 42.7 | 10.7% | 26.0% | 6.8% | 1976 | $1,190 | 29.3% | 91.8% | 4.3% |
| Wyoming County | 2.34 | 45.4 | 8.7% | 22.1% | 15.0% | 1970 | $956 | 22.3% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Erie County | 2.26 | 45.2 | 12.9% | 28.1% | 13.2% | 1966 | $947 | 27.7% | 93.0% | 5.1% |
| Lackawanna County | 2.40 | 42.6 | 12.5% | 34.6% | 11.9% | 1957 | $1,067 | 30.8% | 91.6% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Big Stone County, MN · West Feliciana Parish, LA · Wells County, ND · Webster County, GA · Washburn County, WI · Walthall County, MS · Boyd County, NE · Bowman County, ND · Bland County, VA · Blaine County, OK
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Forest County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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