Forest is a small city of 11,559 in Virginia, with a median household income of $78,327
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Forest stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 90.3
Forest's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Forest costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Forest, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$309,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,071
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,327
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Forest's violent crime rate is 115.2 per 100,000 residents
— 70% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
115.2 /100k
Property Crime
806.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Forest is served primarily by Bedford County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Forest, VA
National Avg
School District
Bedford County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
13
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
47.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Forest sees average highs of 46.4°F in January
and 85.3°F in July,
with 43.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 12.4 inches of snow per year.
Forest's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Forest roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $309,500 and median rent is $1,071/month.
Forest's violent crime rate is 115.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 806.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Forest are operated by Bedford County Public Schools.
The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 47.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Forest, VA has a population of 11,559, a median household income of $78,327, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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 averages 46.4°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.6 inches
with about 12.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Forest, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24551.
The population of Forest, Virginia is 11,559 with a median age of 44.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Forest: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $309,500, median household income $78,327, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.
