Cost of Living in Forest County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Forest County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Forest County ranks #563 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 18%)
Sourced county brief
Forest County Median Home Value Estimated at $115,300
Forest County’s median home value was estimated at $115,300 during the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year period. This value is below the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $212,079. For renter-occupied housing units, the official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), as reported in ACS table B25071, was 24.9%. This official GRAPI is 2.8 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 27.7%. The median gross rent in the county was recorded at $817 per month, compared to the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $991. For households owning their homes, the median selected monthly owner cost was $512, which is below the unweighted state county mean of $1,010. Among renter-occupied households, the median income was $41,364. These statistics represent a data snapshot from the five-year estimate period. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Forest County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.9% of renter household income in Forest County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $817 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $512. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,680 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Forest County's $817 median is 17.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Forest County
Rent Burden
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,218
per month
Owner Cost Burden
11.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Forest County
Median home value is $115,300. Estimated monthly cost: $920 vs. your max of $1,218.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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