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Forest City, Pennsylvania Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest City, Pennsylvania had a total population of 1,770, the 709th largest borough in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $57,404, which is 26% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 16.9%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Forest City Quick Facts

Population 1,770
Median Household Income $57,404
Median Home Value $143,900
Poverty Rate 16.9%
Unemployment Rate 7.4%
Median Age 46.2 years
Homeownership Rate 66.6%
Affordability Ratio 2.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.4%
High School Graduation Rate 92.2%
Diversity Index 20/100
Population 1,770 709th of 1,991
Median Income $57,404 bottom 30%
Poverty Rate 16.9% 36% higher than national
Median Home Value $143,900 below average

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.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population1,7001,770+4.1%
Median household income$58,125$57,404-1.2%
Median home value$138,500$143,900+3.9%

How Forest City Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 19.0%
$25K-$50K 28.2%
$50K-$100K 37.3%
$100K+ 15.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.2%
$10K-$15K
3.2%
$15K-$20K
8.3%
$20K-$25K
5.3%
$25K-$30K
4.3%
$30K-$35K
5.4%
$35K-$40K
5.3%
$40K-$45K
9.1%
$45K-$50K
4.1%
$50K-$60K
5.4%
$60K-$75K
13.6%
$75K-$100K
18.2%
$100K-$125K
5.8%
$125K-$150K
4.4%
$150K-$200K
0.9%
$200K+
4.4%

Employment

7.4% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%
56.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 66.6%
Renter 33.4%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $879/mo 18.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

20out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Forest City Rankings in Pennsylvania

#709 Population of 1,991
#1320 Median Income of 1,854
#1407 Education of 1,987
#1245 Home Value of 1,871

Other Cities in Susquehanna County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Montrose 1,512 $53,269 24.6% $168,400
Susquehanna Depot 1,297 $54,500 24.2% $82,700
Hallstead 1,217 $50,833 15.0% $128,200
New Milford 748 $56,875 12.3% $159,900
Lanesboro 669 $35,000 15.6% $112,200
Great Bend 581 $46,071 11.4% $160,900
Oakland 527 $54,625 20.4% $95,600
Thompson 327 $58,393 30.0% $158,300
Hop Bottom 291 $66,875 15.8% $116,600
Little Meadows 239 $57,500 13.0% $185,400

Cities Similar to Forest City

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Trevorton1,775$59,167$155,30010.7%16.8%
Youngsville1,803$58,789$118,80021.4%12.0%
Port Carbon1,768$61,182$112,00013.0%10.6%
Homer City1,778$65,129$119,40029.8%8.0%
Greenock1,815$52,348$147,20026.5%2.3%

Population Overview

Forest City is a small community located in Pennsylvania, within Susquehanna County. The total population is 1,770. It ranks as the 709th most populous out of 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forest City is 46.2 years. This is 13% higher than the state median of 40.9 years. 13.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Forest City is $57,404. This is 26% lower than the state median of $77,971. It is also 29% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.9%. This is 44% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 7.4%. This is 41% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $143,900. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $254,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Forest City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 69.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Forest City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.2%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 10.3%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 56% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Forest City, Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,991 Census-designated places in Pennsylvania. 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, Pennsylvania?

Forest City, Pennsylvania has a population of 1,770 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Forest City, PA?

The median household income in Forest City is $57,404, which is 29% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Forest City, PA?

The poverty rate in Forest City is 16.9%. This means approximately 283 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Forest City, Pennsylvania?

Forest City's population is 88.8% White, 0.3% Black, 7.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.

What is the median home value in Forest City, PA?

The median home value in Forest City is $143,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.5x.

How educated is Forest City, Pennsylvania?

15.4% of adults (25+) in Forest City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.