Forest City is a small town of 1,612 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $55,694
and a 8.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Forest City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Forest City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Forest City 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: 92.5
Forest City's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Forest City costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Forest City, PA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$128,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$792
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,694
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Forest City's violent crime rate is 11.9 per 100,000 residents
— 97% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
11.9 /100k
Property Crime
71.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Forest City is served primarily by Forest City Regional SD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Forest City, PA
National Avg
School District
Forest City Regional SD
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Forest City sees average highs of 29.0°F in January
and 77.3°F in July,
with 45.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 69.2 inches of snow per year.
Forest City's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Forest City roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $128,700 and median rent is $792/month.
Forest City's violent crime rate is 11.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 71.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Forest City are operated by Forest City Regional SD.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Forest City, PA has a population of 1,612, a median household income of $55,694, and an unemployment rate of 8.5%.
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.
Forest City averages 29.0°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.3 inches
with about 69.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Forest City, Pennsylvania is 1,612 with a median age of 50.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Forest City: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $128,700, median household income $55,694, crime index 3 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Forest City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
