Population 72,313 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Forest Hills
Household size in Forest Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.21 | 2.92 | 2.79 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.25 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 2.72 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.31 | 3.03 | 2.82 | 2.69 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.88 | 2.79 | 2.65 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.03 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Forest Hills has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.21 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.3 | 37.8 | 38.0 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.1 | 38.4 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.5 | 39.9 | 39.8 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 41.4 | 40.4 | 40.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +3.7 | +2.4 | +2.5 | +2.3 |
Forest Hills skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, 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 43.3, in line with the national trend.
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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 13.3% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 12.9% | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 11.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.9% | 11.8% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Forest Hills: 5.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Forest Hills has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Queens neighborhoods.
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 Hills
Renters in Forest Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.8% | 54.5% | 47.1% | 44.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.3% | 56.2% | 48.7% | 46.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.1% | 55.2% | 48.8% | 46.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.9% | 55.1% | 48.6% | 45.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Forest Hills than nationally: 49.9% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in Queens overall (55.1%). Among owners, 53.3% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.0 points, 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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 8.4% | 9.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 8.2% | 9.0% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.1% | 9.1% | 11.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 8.4% | 7.9% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.4% of homes in Forest Hills are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Forest Hills has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Queens neighborhoods.
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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1950 | 1957 | 1956 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1952 | 1958 | 1957 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1952 | 1959 | 1958 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1955 | 1962 | 1961 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 |
Forest Hills is a place of older homes: half were built before 1951, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Queens as a whole looks much the same.
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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,340 | $1,239 | $1,268 | $1,095 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,497 | $1,385 | $1,377 | $1,201 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,768 | $1,637 | $1,645 | $1,426 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,239 | $2,042 | $2,060 | $1,794 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$900 | +$803 | +$792 | +$698 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Forest Hills costs $2,239 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $900 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 30.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the north.
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 Hills
Bachelor's degrees in Forest Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 54.8% | 29.0% | 35.0% | 31.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 56.0% | 29.9% | 36.7% | 33.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 60.6% | 31.8% | 39.9% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 59.9% | 36.1% | 43.6% | 39.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +8.6 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
Forest Hills is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (59.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.0 points, as it has nationally. Only one other Queens neighborhood has a higher 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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 79.6% | 83.7% | 84.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 80.0% | 84.6% | 84.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 81.7% | 86.2% | 86.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 82.3% | 86.9% | 87.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.8 pts | +3.3 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Forest Hills have finished high school (92.8%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points, as it has nationally. Only one other Queens neighborhood has a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Hills
| Period | Forest Hills | Queens | New York area | New York | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 7.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 9.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.4% | 5.6% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 7.2% | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Forest Hills runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Of Queens' 47 neighborhoods, only two have lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Hills compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Hills | 2.41 | 44.8 | 5.9% | 49.9% | 5.4% | 1951 | $2,239 | 59.9% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Rego Park | 2.44 | 43.9 | 7.3% | 57.0% | 8.1% | 1954 | $1,938 | 49.0% | 87.6% | 6.6% |
| Kew Ggardens | 2.67 | 40.8 | 10.9% | 53.7% | 6.7% | 1954 | $1,936 | 47.0% | 86.5% | 5.9% |
| Middle Village | 2.63 | 45.8 | 10.5% | 42.2% | 9.5% | 1951 | $2,110 | 35.8% | 85.0% | 3.6% |
| Corona | 3.65 | 35.6 | 22.8% | 77.6% | 5.5% | 1959 | $2,039 | 14.2% | 63.3% | 7.2% |
| Elmhurst | 3.12 | 39.1 | 11.8% | 72.3% | 7.8% | 1954 | $1,987 | 29.8% | 75.9% | 5.9% |
| Woodhaven | 3.45 | 41.9 | 15.3% | 45.7% | 7.4% | 1941 | $1,998 | 26.8% | 79.1% | 8.0% |
| Glendale | 2.76 | 40.5 | 11.3% | 50.1% | 6.4% | 1940 | $2,043 | 30.3% | 83.7% | 5.3% |
| Richmond Hill | 3.56 | 41.0 | 10.8% | 43.7% | 4.6% | 1940 | $2,003 | 23.4% | 74.2% | 8.4% |
| Maspeth | 2.86 | 44.2 | 11.3% | 42.5% | 8.8% | 1951 | $1,963 | 26.4% | 80.6% | 7.7% |
| Jamaica | 3.12 | 39.4 | 14.2% | 56.6% | 7.5% | 1958 | $1,990 | 29.3% | 78.8% | 10.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Richmond Hill, Queens, NY · Lake Highlands, Dallas, TX · Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL · Logan Square, Chicago, IL · McLane, Fresno, CA · Meyerland, Houston, TX · Midtown, Manhattan, NY · Millcreek, Salt Lake City, UT · Mira Mesa, San Diego, CA · Mott Haven, Bronx, NY
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 Hills. 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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