Forest City

Population: 7,368
Median household income: $35,897
Median home value: $142,100

Forest City is a community in Rutherford County, North Carolina, home to 7,368 residents. Its median household income of $35,897 runs below the Rutherford County figure of $49,771.

Between 2019 and 2023, Forest City's population grew 3.0% from 7,155 to 7,368, while its median home value rose 40.1% from $101,400 to $142,100.

The typical home was built around 1966. 33.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 7,368
Median age: 34.8 yrs
Median household income: $35,897
Median home value: $142,100
Median gross rent: $815
Housing units: 3,244
Homeownership rate: 41.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.2%
Unemployment rate: 6.7%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

7,1557,368

Median household income

$27,589$35,897

Median home value

$101,400$142,100

Median gross rent

$592$815

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	7,155	$27,589	$101,400	$592
2020	7,150	$29,571	$108,500	$637
2021	7,330	$31,573	$116,300	$668
2022	7,357	$35,232	$136,600	$718
2023	7,368	$35,897	$142,100	$815

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 59.5%

5 to 1719.3%

18 to 248.9%

25 to 3412.4%

35 to 448.5%

45 to 5413.2%

55 to 6411.7%

65 to 749.9%

75 and over6.6%

	Count	Share
Under 5	700	9.5%
5 to 17	1,425	19.3%
18 to 24	657	8.9%
25 to 34	911	12.4%
35 to 44	628	8.5%
45 to 54	974	13.2%
55 to 64	860	11.7%
65 to 74	730	9.9%
75 and over	483	6.6%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	3,981	54.0%
Black or African American	1,843	25.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	3	0.0%
Asian	121	1.6%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	129	1.8%
Two or more races	493	6.7%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	798	10.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma14.2%

High school graduate35.0%

Some college or associate's33.6%

Bachelor's degree10.4%

Graduate or professional degree6.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	653	14.2%
High school graduate	1,604	35.0%
Some college or associate's	1,541	33.6%
Bachelor's degree	476	10.4%
Graduate or professional degree	312	6.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 27 min

Drove alone83.0%

Carpooled10.2%

Public transit0.8%

Walked1.3%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.7%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	2,244	83.0%
Carpooled	276	10.2%
Public transit	21	0.8%
Walked	36	1.3%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	128	4.7%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,022	39.7%
15 to 29 min	669	26.0%
30 to 44 min	319	12.4%
45 to 59 min	164	6.4%
60+ min	403	15.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.73
Poverty rate: 33.6% (2,449 of 7,294)

	Count	Share
Family households	1,563	59.1%
Nonfamily households	1,082	40.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1966

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,645	81.5%
Vacant	599	18.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	1,087	41.1%
Renter-occupied	1,558	58.9%

1-unit, detached71.0%

1-unit, attached1.6%

2 to 4 units13.7%

5 to 19 units6.7%

20 or more units3.5%

Mobile home & other3.4%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	2,304	71.0%
1-unit, attached	53	1.6%
2 to 4 units	444	13.7%
5 to 19 units	218	6.7%
20 or more units	115	3.5%
Mobile home & other	110	3.4%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3724080
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 8.59 sq mi
Water area: 0.02 sq mi
Center point: 35.3347, -81.8708