Forest Home, New York Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest Home, New York had a total population of 1,303, the 770th largest community in New York, with a median household income of $59,018, which is 31% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 10.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 31% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- 96.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in New York.
- Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 8.5x the median household income.
- One of the most racially diverse communities in New York (diversity index: 70/100).
Forest Home Quick Facts
How Forest Home 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 | 1,164 | 1,303 | +11.9% |
| Median household income | $59,107 | $59,018 | -0.2% |
| Median home value | $496,900 | $499,300 | +0.5% |
How Forest Home 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
This community is exceptionally diverse, with no single racial or ethnic group dominating the population.
State average: 65 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Forest Home Rankings in New York
Explore New York Rankings
Other Cities in Tompkins County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | 32,814 | $48,784 | 30.4% | $342,700 |
| South Hill | 6,951 | $104,211 | 12.7% | $353,800 |
| Cayuga Heights | 4,000 | $166,526 | 11.2% | $433,000 |
| Lansing | 3,876 | $72,364 | 23.6% | $516,900 |
| Northeast Ithaca | 2,661 | $95,250 | 3.1% | $402,000 |
| Northwest Ithaca | 2,225 | $56,753 | 17.8% | $312,900 |
| East Ithaca | 1,918 | $116,410 | 7.3% | $332,700 |
| Groton | 1,834 | $60,114 | 8.2% | $156,700 |
| Dryden | 1,671 | $50,435 | 18.2% | $230,900 |
| Trumansburg | 1,665 | $68,967 | 9.3% | $287,000 |
Cities Similar to Forest Home
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nazareth College | 1,319 | N/A | N/A | 65.6% | 100.0% |
| St. John Fisher College | 1,361 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Wingdale | 1,234 | N/A | $299,400 | 23.9% | 17.1% |
| Delevan | 1,275 | $64,194 | $116,300 | 22.6% | 16.7% |
| Wilson | 1,379 | $60,639 | $172,700 | 22.5% | 23.2% |
Population Overview
Forest Home is a small community located in New York, within Tompkins County. The total population is 1,303. It ranks as the 770th most populous out of 1,289 Census-designated places in New York.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forest Home is 29.5 years. This is 26% lower than the state median of 39.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forest Home is $59,018. This is 31% lower than the state median of $85,974. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.8%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 14.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $499,300. Housing costs are 18% higher than the state median of $423,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 35.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% lower than the state average of 54.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
Forest Home is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (9.8%) is well below the state average of 19.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (42.4% vs 9.0%).
Education
96.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Forest Home in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 140% higher than the state rate of 40.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 99.8%. Notably, 60.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Forest Home, New York 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 New York state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,289 Census-designated places in New York. 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 New York city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Forest Home, New York?
Forest Home, New York has a population of 1,303 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Forest Home, NY?
The median household income in Forest Home is $59,018, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Forest Home, NY?
The poverty rate in Forest Home is 10.8%. This means approximately 110 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Forest Home, New York?
Forest Home's population is 30.2% White, 13.3% Black, 9.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 42.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Forest Home, NY?
The median home value in Forest Home is $499,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 8.5x.
How educated is Forest Home, New York?
96.7% of adults (25+) in Forest Home hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 60.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.