City

Forest City, NC

1 ZIP code  ·  Rutherford County  ·  North Carolina

👥20,896Population
💰$41,746Median HH Income▼ 45% below avg
🎂40.3Median Age
🏠$176,100Median Home Value▼ 37% below avg
🎓32.7%College Grads▼ 16% below avg
📊6.5%Unemployment▲ 33% above avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 48.7% Female 51.3% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 68.1%Hispanic: 9.9%Black: 13.6%Asian: 0.8%Other: 6.5%Race
White68.1%
Hispanic9.9%
Black13.6%
Asian0.8%
Other6.5%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
7%
5–17
16%
18–24
10%
25–44
23%
45–64
27%
65+
8%

Key Indicators

Median Age40.3 yrs
Avg HH Size2.53
Below Poverty23.6% ▲ 136% above avg
College Grads32.7% ▼ 16% below avg
Unemployment6.5% ▲ 33% above avg
No HS Diploma221 (1.8%)
HS Graduate3,898 (32%)
Some College1,930 (15.8%)
Associates2,165 (17.8%)
Bachelors1,583 (13%)
Graduate Degree2,400 (19.7%)

Education

No HS: 1.8%HS Grad: 32%Some College: 15.8%Associates: 17.8%Bachelors: 13%Graduate: 19.7%Edu
No HS1.8%
HS Grad32.0%
Some College15.8%
Associates17.8%
Bachelors13.0%
Graduate19.7%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 64.2%Renter: 35.8%Tenure
Owner64.2%
Renter35.8%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
13%
$50k–$100k
15%
$100k–$150k
13%
$150k–$200k
19%
$200k–$300k
24%
$300k–$500k
12%
Over $500k
4%

Financials

Median HH Income$41,746 ▼ 45% below avg
Median Home Value$176,100 ▼ 37% below avg
Home/Income Ratio4.2x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$744/mo
Total Housing Units9,356
Vacant Units1,205

Income Distribution

Under $25k
28%
$25k–$50k
26%
$50k–$75k
16%
$75k–$100k
12%
$100k–$150k
10%
$150k–$200k
3%
Over $200k
5%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
93%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
1%
Work From Home
6%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
34%
15–30 min
31%
30–45 min
17%
Over 45 min
17%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
14%
1960s–1970s
19%
1980s–1990s
14%
2000+
53%
About Forest City, NC

Forest City is a city in North Carolina, located in Rutherford County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 20,896 residents. It is a middle-aged city, with a median age of 40.3 years.

Economically, Forest City is a working-class community. The median household income of $41,746 is below the national average. Approximately 23.6% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 6.5%, above the national average.

The real estate market in Forest City is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $176,100, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $744 per month. Homeownership is high at 64.2%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Forest City is moderately educated. 32.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is majority White (68.06%).

Forest City, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina.

ZIP Codes in Forest City
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28043 20,896 $41,746 $176,100 $744 6.5% 32.7% 64.2%