Population 24,423 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Forest
Household size in Forest
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.68 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.62 people per household, Forest sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has crept up from 2.57 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.3 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Forest is 42.6 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the south.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Forest: 6.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Forest has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Virginia cities.
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
Renters in Forest
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Forest is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.1%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, as it has 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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Forest: just 4.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.3 points, mirroring the country. Forest has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1991 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1997 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Forest has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1997, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the center has the oldest housing.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $578 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $743 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $982 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,182 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$604 | +$600 | +$606 |
Rent in Forest runs $1,182 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $604 a month from 2006–10, a 105% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the northeast.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Forest
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.9% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.7% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.2% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Forest: 46.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 5.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.0% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.1% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.1% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Forest: 96.1% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Forest has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Virginia cities.
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
| Period | Forest | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.2% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Forest has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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 compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest | 2.62 | 42.6 | 6.0% | 18.8% | 4.3% | 1997 | $1,182 | 46.2% | 96.1% | 2.5% |
| Timberlake | 2.39 | 42.7 | 8.2% | 34.7% | 7.2% | 1981 | $1,072 | 33.6% | 95.2% | 3.6% |
| Goode | 2.59 | 49.4 | 6.1% | 8.6% | 2.8% | 1996 | $837 | 31.4% | 95.0% | 1.7% |
| Lynchburg | 2.38 | 34.8 | 11.2% | 46.0% | 14.1% | 1974 | $1,086 | 43.3% | 92.1% | 5.3% |
| Evington | 2.71 | 38.4 | 8.9% | 18.6% | 9.3% | 1990 | $938 | 29.0% | 91.3% | 3.5% |
| Charlemont | 2.22 | 52.8 | 2.5% | 23.9% | 5.8% | 1981 | $846 | 22.6% | 95.2% | 0.0% |
| Lowry | 2.13 | 53.6 | 3.9% | 13.6% | 16.6% | 1979 | $797 | 17.5% | 90.3% | 4.1% |
| Otter Hill | 2.57 | 44.1 | 6.7% | 7.7% | 4.1% | 1996 | $835 | 40.6% | 92.6% | 1.7% |
| Coleman Falls | 3.36 | 43.3 | 7.9% | 3.8% | 13.8% | 2000 | $1,210 | 48.9% | 95.7% | 3.0% |
| Waugh | 3.23 | 44.5 | 8.0% | 3.5% | 15.4% | 1999 | $1,202 | 47.6% | 93.2% | 2.6% |
| East Brook | 2.08 | 51.0 | 6.1% | 33.4% | 14.0% | 1979 | $934 | 25.3% | 86.4% | 3.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Port Hueneme, CA · Hudson, NH · Huntington, IN · Imperial, CA · Jasper, GA · Jesup, GA · Johns Island, SC · Joshua, TX · Juneau, AK · Kaukauna, WI
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. 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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