Below Average CostVery SafeForrestville Valley CUSD 221
Forreston, IL Sign 02 · Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) / CC BY 2.5Forreston, IL Fire Dept 01 · Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) / CC BY 2.5Forreston, IL Post Office · Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) / CC BY 2.5Forreston, IL Veterans Memorial 01 · Ben Jacobson (Kranar Drogin) / CC BY 2.5
Forreston is a small town of 1,140 in Illinois, with a median household income of $65,179
and a 2.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Forreston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Forreston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Forreston city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.2
Forreston's overall cost of living index is 92.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Forreston costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Forreston, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$113,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$814
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,179
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Forreston's violent crime rate is 213.8 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
213.8 /100k
Property Crime
498.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Forreston is served primarily by Forrestville Valley CUSD 221.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Forreston, IL
National Avg
School District
Forrestville Valley CUSD 221
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Forreston sees average highs of 30.1°F in January
and 84.5°F in July,
with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.5 inches of snow per year.
Forreston's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Forreston roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $113,800 and median rent is $814/month.
Forreston's violent crime rate is 213.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 498.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Forreston are operated by Forrestville Valley CUSD 221.
The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 14.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Forreston, IL has a population of 1,140, a median household income of $65,179, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Forreston averages 30.1°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches
with about 34.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Forreston, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 61030.
The population of Forreston, Illinois is 1,140 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Forreston: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $113,800, median household income $65,179, crime index 43 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Forreston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
