Median Income
$42,080
household / year
Median Home Value
$165,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$833
gross / month
Cost of Living
98
national avg = 100

Is Forks, WA a Good Place to Live?

Forks is a small town of 3,380 in Washington, with a median household income of $42,080 and a 8.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Forks stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Forks 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: 98.1

Forks's overall cost of living index is 98.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Forks costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric Forks, WA National Avg
Median Home Value $165,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $833 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 56.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $42,080 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Forks's violent crime rate is 254.7 per 100,000 residents — 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
254.7 /100k
Property Crime
1540.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Forks is served primarily by Quillayute Valley School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Forks, WA National Avg
School District Quillayute Valley School District —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools 1 —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 22.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 81.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Forks sees average highs of 46.9°F in January and 73.1°F in July, with 119.9 inches of annual precipitation and 7.9 inches of snow per year.

MetricForks, WA
Average High — January46.9°F
Average High — July73.1°F
Annual Precipitation119.9"
Annual Snowfall7.9"

Demographics

MetricForks, WANational Avg
Population3,380—
Median Age33.938.9
Unemployment Rate8.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time18.0 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)65.9%59.3%
Black or African American1.3%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino12.1%18.9%
Asian4.6%6.3%
Under 1825.8%22.2%
65 and over11.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clallam Bay, WA 22 mi Sekiu, WA 22 mi Queets, WA 30 mi Neah Bay, WA 30 mi Amanda Park, WA 41 mi

ZIP Codes in Forks

Forks, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98331

Forks vs Other Cities

Forks, WA vs Clallam Bay, WA Forks, WA vs Sekiu, WA Forks, WA vs Queets, WA Forks, WA vs Neah Bay, WA Forks, WA vs Amanda Park, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Forks's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Forks roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $165,500 and median rent is $833/month.
Forks's violent crime rate is 254.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1540.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Forks are operated by Quillayute Valley School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.8:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Forks, WA has a population of 3,380, a median household income of $42,080, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Forks averages 46.9°F in January and 73.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 119.9 inches with about 7.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Forks, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98331.
The population of Forks, Washington is 3,380 with a median age of 33.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Forks: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $165,500, median household income $42,080, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Forks side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.