Forest

Population: 12,476
Median household income: $78,825
Median home value: $319,100

Forest, a community in Bedford County, Virginia, has 12,476 residents. The median household income of $78,825 is in line with the Bedford County median ($77,644).

Between 2019 and 2023, Forest's population grew 15.1% from 10,836 to 12,476, while its median home value rose 36.1% from $234,500 to $319,100.

Households average 2.44 people. The median gross rent is $1,112.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 12,476
Median age: 42.1 yrs
Median household income: $78,825
Median home value: $319,100
Median gross rent: $1,112
Housing units: 5,193
Homeownership rate: 75.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 48.4%
Unemployment rate: 3.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

10,83612,476

Median household income

$76,367$78,825

Median home value

$234,500$319,100

Median gross rent

$988$1,112

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	10,836	$76,367	$234,500	$988
2020	11,075	$76,101	$248,000	$909
2021	11,045	$80,000	$272,100	$998
2022	11,559	$78,327	$309,500	$1,071
2023	12,476	$78,825	$319,100	$1,112

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

Age distribution

Under 55.3%

5 to 1714.2%

18 to 2410.4%

25 to 3412.0%

35 to 4410.6%

45 to 5411.6%

55 to 6414.8%

65 to 7410.6%

75 and over10.5%

	Count	Share
Under 5	655	5.3%
5 to 17	1,777	14.2%
18 to 24	1,301	10.4%
25 to 34	1,502	12.0%
35 to 44	1,323	10.6%
45 to 54	1,441	11.6%
55 to 64	1,848	14.8%
65 to 74	1,317	10.6%
75 and over	1,312	10.5%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	9,596	76.9%
Black or African American	1,241	9.9%
American Indian & Alaska Native	16	0.1%
Asian	185	1.5%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	177	1.4%
Two or more races	812	6.5%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	449	3.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma4.7%

High school graduate17.4%

Some college or associate's29.4%

Bachelor's degree26.2%

Graduate or professional degree22.3%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	413	4.7%
High school graduate	1,525	17.4%
Some college or associate's	2,571	29.4%
Bachelor's degree	2,287	26.2%
Graduate or professional degree	1,947	22.3%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 22 min

Drove alone77.1%

Carpooled5.2%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.8%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home16.0%

Other means0.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	4,548	77.1%
Carpooled	309	5.2%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	48	0.8%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	943	16.0%
Other means	51	0.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,187	24.0%
15 to 29 min	2,669	53.9%
30 to 44 min	694	14.0%
45 to 59 min	215	4.3%
60+ min	191	3.9%

Households

Average household size: 2.44
Poverty rate: 7.5% (927 of 12,405)

	Count	Share
Family households	3,327	65.4%
Nonfamily households	1,763	34.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1991

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	5,090	98.0%
Vacant	103	2.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	3,815	75.0%
Renter-occupied	1,275	25.0%

1-unit, detached56.8%

1-unit, attached15.6%

2 to 4 units6.4%

5 to 19 units12.0%

20 or more units7.6%

Mobile home & other1.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	2,948	56.8%
1-unit, attached	811	15.6%
2 to 4 units	331	6.4%
5 to 19 units	623	12.0%
20 or more units	395	7.6%
Mobile home & other	85	1.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 5128688
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 14 sq mi
Water area: 0.12 sq mi
Center point: 37.3749, -79.2771