Forest Heights, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Forest Heights is a small community located in Texas, within Orange County. The total population is 1,795. It ranks as the 776th most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Forest Heights is 36.9 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. With 30.1% of the population under 18, Forest Heights has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Forest Heights is $81,429. This is 4% higher than the state median of $78,476. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 23.9%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $119,600. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Forest Heights is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Forest Heights has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (96.2% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 39.7%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

7.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 78% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Forest Heights, Texas 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 Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.