Forest City city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Forest City city is a small community located in Iowa. The total population is 4,280. It ranks as the 98th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forest City city is 32.0 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Forest City city is $62,917. This is 14% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% lower. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 15% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $136,400. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Forest City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Forest City city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.5% of all residents. Asian residents account for 7.5%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 7.0%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (7.5% vs 2.4%).

Education

25.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Forest City city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.