Forrest, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forrest, Illinois had a total population of 994, the 700th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $73,426, which is 12% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.2%.
Forrest Quick Facts
How Forrest Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,008 | 994 | -1.4% |
| Median household income | $70,417 | $73,426 | +4.3% |
| Median home value | $104,000 | $113,000 | +8.7% |
How Forrest Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 61 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Forrest Rankings in Illinois
Explore Illinois Rankings
Other Cities in Livingston County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac | 11,294 | $61,279 | 13.1% | $116,300 |
| Fairbury | 3,713 | $70,962 | 2.1% | $162,200 |
| Chatsworth | 1,172 | $69,559 | 16.8% | $103,200 |
| Odell | 890 | $83,558 | 9.6% | $121,000 |
| Flanagan | 849 | $62,083 | 12.8% | $108,900 |
| Cullom | 471 | $65,417 | 11.7% | $100,800 |
| Cornell | 389 | $68,750 | 22.5% | $92,200 |
| Saunemin | 352 | $56,250 | 10.8% | $94,600 |
| Long Point | 245 | $66,250 | 9.0% | $91,500 |
| Campus | 172 | $111,406 | 7.6% | $152,200 |
Cities Similar to Forrest
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCullom Lake | 1,017 | $72,791 | $178,600 | 16.1% | 16.1% |
| Ashland | 999 | $68,060 | $98,500 | 19.3% | 4.9% |
| Andalusia | 1,021 | $77,222 | $168,000 | 17.5% | 4.8% |
| Washburn | 945 | $76,667 | $89,100 | 22.1% | 7.5% |
| Beckemeyer | 993 | $63,603 | $121,300 | 9.6% | 5.4% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 994, Forrest's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Forrest is a small community located in Illinois, within Livingston County. The total population is 994. It ranks as the 700th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forrest is 34.1 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forrest is $73,426. This is 12% lower than the state median of $83,390. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.0%. This is 16% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 2.2%. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $113,000. Housing costs are 57% lower than the state median of $263,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Forrest is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 67.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Forrest has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.3%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 13.3%.
Education
18.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Forrest, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Forrest, Illinois?
Forrest, Illinois has a population of 994 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Forrest, IL?
The median household income in Forrest is $73,426, which is 9% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Forrest, IL?
The poverty rate in Forrest is 10.0%. This means approximately 99 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Forrest, Illinois?
Forrest's population is 86.1% White, 0.4% Black, 10.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Forrest, IL?
The median home value in Forrest is $113,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Forrest, Illinois?
18.9% of adults (25+) in Forrest hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.