Forest City, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest City, Missouri had a total population of 193, the 743rd largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $46,875, which is 34% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 34% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Only 7.2% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.1%.
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 | 180 | 193 | +7.2% |
| Median household income | $45,750 | $46,875 | +2.5% |
| Median home value | $74,300 | $46,700 | -37.1% |
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: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Forest City Rankings in Missouri
Explore Missouri Rankings
Other Cities in Holt County
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blodgett | 196 | N/A | N/A | 6.7% | 20.4% |
| Bolckow | 197 | $48,750 | $86,100 | 15.3% | 19.3% |
| Bosworth | 202 | $46,923 | $40,000 | 3.9% | 5.9% |
| Marquand | 187 | $45,268 | $93,000 | 8.3% | 13.9% |
| Wyaconda | 195 | $50,667 | $65,400 | 4.1% | 39.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 193, Forest City'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
Forest City is a small community located in Missouri, within Holt County. The total population is 193. It ranks as the 743rd most populous out of 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forest City is 55.6 years. This is 43% higher than the state median of 39.0 years. Only 6.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forest City is $46,875. This is 34% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.1%. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $46,700. Housing costs are 80% lower than the state median of $230,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, Forest City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Forest City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 99.0% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.5%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
7.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.0%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Forest City, Missouri 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 Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. 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 Forest City, Missouri?
Forest City, Missouri has a population of 193 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Forest City, MO?
The median household income in Forest City is $46,875, which is 42% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Forest City, MO?
The poverty rate in Forest City is 17.6%. This means approximately 34 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Forest City, Missouri?
Forest City's population is 99.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.
What is the median home value in Forest City, MO?
The median home value in Forest City is $46,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is Forest City, Missouri?
7.2% of adults (25+) in Forest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.