Forest City, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest City, Iowa had a total population of 4,290, the 98th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $69,205, which is 8% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.4%.
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 2.1x.
Forest City Quick Facts
How Forest City 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 | 4,280 | 4,290 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $62,917 | $69,205 | +10.0% |
| Median home value | $136,400 | $143,500 | +5.2% |
How Forest City 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: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Forest City Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Hancock County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garner | 3,049 | $70,726 | 11.5% | $186,300 |
| Britt | 1,882 | $72,943 | 10.1% | $101,900 |
| Kanawha | 756 | $68,250 | 8.7% | $77,600 |
| Klemme | 544 | $59,256 | 13.4% | $77,900 |
| Crystal Lake | 283 | $66,875 | 12.7% | $100,300 |
| Goodell | 268 | $87,813 | 10.1% | $57,100 |
| Corwith | 249 | $55,313 | 50.2% | $58,300 |
| Woden | 219 | $50,000 | 32.4% | $76,000 |
| Miller | 25 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Duncan | 21 | N/A | 57.1% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Forest City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | 4,071 | $70,015 | $175,200 | 19.7% | 5.9% |
| Camanche | 4,550 | $64,153 | $172,400 | 20.1% | 11.5% |
| Rock Valley | 4,059 | $76,250 | $231,200 | 16.6% | 9.3% |
| Jefferson | 4,152 | $58,895 | $155,800 | 21.1% | 7.3% |
| Evansdale | 4,518 | $60,397 | $150,300 | 10.3% | 24.0% |
Population Overview
Forest City is a small community located in Iowa, within Hancock County. The total population is 4,290. It ranks as the 98th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forest City is 34.4 years. This is 11% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forest City is $69,205. This is 8% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 14% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 2.7%. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $143,500. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Forest City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Forest City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.1% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
29.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Forest City, Iowa 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 Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Iowa city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Forest City, Iowa?
Forest City, Iowa has a population of 4,290 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Forest City, IA?
The median household income in Forest City is $69,205, which is 14% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Forest City, IA?
The poverty rate in Forest City is 12.4%. This means approximately 472 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Forest City, Iowa?
Forest City's population is 87.1% White, 4.6% Black, 3.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Forest City, IA?
The median home value in Forest City is $143,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Forest City, Iowa?
29.2% of adults (25+) in Forest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.