What are the schools like in Forest, MS?

Forest is served primarily by Scott County School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2:1.

What is the median household income in Forest?

The median household income in Forest, MS is $50,093 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.1%.

What is the weather like in Forest, MS?

Forest has an average high temperature of 57.8°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 61.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.9 inches.

Forest, MS Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Forest, MS affordable or expensive?

Forest's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Forest is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $113,700 and the median rent is $616 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Forest, MS?

Forest has a violent crime rate of 707.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 879.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Forest, MS a Good Place to Live?

Forest is a small town of 5,416 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $50,093 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Forest stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Forest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Forest 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: 87.5

Forest's overall cost of living index is 87.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Forest costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Forest, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$113,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$616	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,093	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Forest's violent crime rate is 707.2 per 100,000 residents — 86% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

707.2 /100k

Property Crime

879.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Forest is served primarily by Scott County School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Forest, MS	National Avg
School District	Scott County School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	68.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Forest sees average highs of 57.8°F in January and 90.7°F in July, with 61.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Forest, MS
Average High — January	57.8°F
Average High — July	90.7°F
Annual Precipitation	61.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.9"

Demographics

Metric	Forest, MS	National Avg
Population	5,416	—
Median Age	36.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	45.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	42.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.0%	22.2%
65 and over	16.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hillsboro, MS 6 mi Harperville, MS 9 mi Lake, MS 10 mi Morton, MS 11 mi Conehatta, MS 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Forest

Forest, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39074

Forest vs Other Cities

Forest, MS vs Hillsboro, MS Forest, MS vs Harperville, MS Forest, MS vs Lake, MS Forest, MS vs Morton, MS Forest, MS vs Conehatta, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forest, MS affordable or expensive?

Forest's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Forest roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $113,700 and median rent is $616/month.

What is the crime rate in Forest, MS?

Forest's violent crime rate is 707.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 879.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Forest?

Public schools in Forest are operated by Scott County School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Forest, MS a good place to live?

Forest, MS has a population of 5,416, a median household income of $50,093, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Forest?

Forest averages 57.8°F in January and 90.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 61.6 inches with about 0.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Forest?

Forest, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39074.

What is the population of Forest?

The population of Forest, Mississippi is 5,416 with a median age of 36.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Forest?

Key numbers for living in Forest: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $113,700, median household income $50,093, crime index 128 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Forest side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.