Population 9,369 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Forest County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Forest County
Household size in Forest County
| Period | Forest County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.16 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Forest County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.16 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the east and smallest in the northwest.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.5 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.5 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Forest County skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.5, 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 42.5, as it has nationally.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Forest County (10.8%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Few Wisconsin counties have a higher share of single-parent households: only five of 72.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.6% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.8% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Forest County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 48.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 6.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.7% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 51.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 49.6% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 47.3% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Forest County: 47.3% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Forest County was built around 1979, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Wisconsin as a whole, where the median home dates to 1974. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $510 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $490 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $542 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $592 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$81 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Forest County costs $592 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $81 a month from 2006–10, a 16% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 20.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Forest County has the lowest rents of any Wisconsin county.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.3% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Forest County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.2%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.2 points, mirroring the country. Few Wisconsin counties have a lower share of college graduates: only two of 72.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.6% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.5% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Forest County is close to the national rate: 90.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Wisconsin as a whole (93.3%). The share with a diploma is up 4.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Forest County has been strong: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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 | 2.31 | 48.5 | 10.8% | 18.0% | 47.3% | 1979 | $592 | 16.2% | 90.5% | 2.8% |
| Rusk County | 2.26 | 47.8 | 8.8% | 22.1% | 22.4% | 1978 | $904 | 16.8% | 92.6% | 5.1% |
| Barron County | 2.36 | 45.8 | 8.8% | 22.6% | 14.4% | 1975 | $928 | 23.5% | 91.6% | 2.8% |
| Polk County | 2.32 | 46.4 | 8.5% | 19.0% | 17.0% | 1982 | $997 | 24.3% | 94.0% | 3.4% |
| Emmet County | 2.28 | 45.8 | 6.8% | 23.0% | 24.9% | 1982 | $1,056 | 41.6% | 96.2% | 3.1% |
| Chisago County | 2.66 | 41.7 | 8.8% | 14.1% | 7.3% | 1990 | $1,252 | 24.8% | 96.0% | 4.3% |
| Cheboygan County | 2.35 | 50.0 | 7.5% | 14.4% | 30.8% | 1980 | $823 | 23.8% | 91.0% | 6.1% |
| Isanti County | 2.62 | 40.8 | 10.4% | 16.3% | 6.3% | 1988 | $1,339 | 20.6% | 93.2% | 3.7% |
| Sherburne County | 2.85 | 37.8 | 10.5% | 16.8% | 6.3% | 1995 | $1,370 | 30.5% | 94.7% | 3.0% |
| Benton County | 2.49 | 37.0 | 12.2% | 33.3% | 5.9% | 1987 | $1,176 | 26.8% | 92.8% | 4.0% |
| Stearns County | 2.53 | 37.2 | 8.9% | 32.1% | 8.2% | 1983 | $1,133 | 29.1% | 92.0% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Barnes County, ND · Weston County, WY · Westmoreland County, VA · Blaine County, MT · Billings County, ND · Beaverhead County, MT · Beaver County, UT · Beaver County, OK · Bayfield County, WI · Bath County, VA
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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.