Melissa is an exceptional partner in regional economic development. Her ability to coordinate seamlessly with Alliant Energy ensures that Winnebago and Worth counties are always positioned for growth. She is proactive, deeply knowledgeable, and highly collaborative- bringing her into a project early is a guarantee that things will move forward efficiently and successfully.
— Chad Hansen , Alliant Energy
Forest City
Whatever your reason for traveling to Forest City, business or pleasure, recreation or research, Forest City offers a wide variety of activities to help you have a good time. There are regular events hosted by the city, including a Newcomers Open House to welcome new residents and help them to plug into the community.
Population
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Population
| Population | 2000 | 2010 | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | 4,394 | 4,152 | 4,234 | 4,184 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Population by Age
| Population | 2026 |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | 211 |
| 5-9 | 219 |
| 10-14 | 211 |
| 15-19 | 365 |
| 20-24 | 436 |
| 25-29 | 313 |
| 30-34 | 214 |
| 35-39 | 235 |
| 40-44 | 221 |
| 45-49 | 254 |
| 50-54 | 206 |
| 55-59 | 197 |
| 60-64 | 266 |
| 65-69 | 272 |
| 70-74 | 203 |
| 75-79 | 175 |
| 80-84 | 105 |
| 85+ | 131 |
| 18+ | 3,453 |
| Median Age | 38 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Population by Race
| Forest City | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Total | 4,234.00 |
| White Alone | 84.41% |
| Black Alone | 4.16% |
| American Indian Alone | 0.4% |
| Asian Alone | 2.22% |
| Pacific Islander Alone | 0.14% |
| Some Other Race | 2.53% |
| Two or More Races | 6.14% |
| Hispanic Origin | 7.01% |
| Diversity Index | 37.50 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Growth Rate
| Forest City | 2026 - 2031 |
|---|---|
| Population | -0.24% |
| Households | -0.22% |
| Families | -0.31% |
| Median Household Income | 3% |
| Per Capita Income | 2% |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Housing
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Households
| Population | 2000 | 2010 | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 1,702 | 1,687 | 1,698 | 1,679 |
| Housing Units | 1,820 | 1,910 | 1,888 | 1,867 |
| Owner Occupied Units | 1,158 | 1,152 | ||
| Renter Occupied Units | 540 | 527 | ||
| Vacant Units | 190 | 188 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Home Value
| Forest City | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $165,461 | $175,410 |
| Average Home Value | $206,231 | $220,686 |
| <$50,000 | 31 | 24 |
| $50,000 - $99,999 | 205 | 182 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 249 | 221 |
| $150,000 - $199,999 | 224 | 209 |
| $200,000 - $249,999 | 109 | 110 |
| $250,000 - $299,999 | 93 | 99 |
| $300,000 - $399,999 | 202 | 255 |
| $400,000 - $499,999 | 25 | 27 |
| $500,000 - $749,999 | 7 | 14 |
| $1,000,000 + | 12 | 11 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Housing Year Built
| Year Range | Houses Built |
|---|---|
| 2010 or Later | 8 |
| 2000-2009 | 121 |
| 1990-1999 | 89 |
| 1980-1989 | 144 |
| 1970-1979 | 546 |
| 1960-1969 | 215 |
| 1950-1959 | 203 |
| 1940-1949 | 58 |
| 1939 or Before | 369 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Back To TopIncome
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Income
| Forest City | 2026 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household | $61,574 | $69,657 |
| Average Household | $90,772 | $99,903 |
| Per Capita | $37,383 | $41,106 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Household Income
| Forest City | 2026 |
|---|---|
| <$15,000 | 149 |
| $15,000 - $24,999 | 89 |
| $25,000 - $34,999 | 120 |
| $35,000 - $49,999 | 207 |
| $50,000 - $74,999 | 403 |
| $75,000 - $99,999 | 258 |
| $100,000 - $149,999 | 254 |
| $150,000 - $199,999 | 97 |
| $200,000+ | 121 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Back To TopEmployees
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Commute
| Category | Commuters |
|---|---|
| Workers 16+ | 2,142 |
| In-County Residents | 1,406 |
| Out-of-County Residents | 717 |
| Drive Alone | 1,609 |
| Carpooled | 153 |
| Public Transport | 5 |
| Work at Home | 129 |
| Motorcycle | 9 |
| Bicycle | 26 |
| Walked | 183 |
| Other | 25 |
| Less than 5 minutes | 377 |
| 5-9 minutes | 835 |
| 10-14 minutes | 164 |
| 15-19 minutes | 158 |
| 20-24 minutes | 161 |
| 25-29 minutes | 31 |
| 30-34 minutes | 94 |
| 35-39 minutes | 137 |
| 40-44 minutes | 31 |
| 45-59 minutes | 8 |
| 60-89 minutes | 7 |
| 90+ minutes | 10 |
| Average Travel Time | 0 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Employees by NAICS
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Employees | 2,570 |
| Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt | 3 |
| Mining | 0 |
| Utilities | 6 |
| Construction | 106 |
| Manufacturing | 177 |
| Wholesale Trade | 197 |
| Retail Trade | 227 |
| Motor Veh/Parts Dealers | 67 |
| Furn & Home Furnish Str | 2 |
| Electronics & Appl Store | 0 |
| Bldg Matl/Garden Equip | 21 |
| Food & Beverage Stores | 85 |
| Health/Pers Care Stores | 13 |
| Gasoline Stations | 18 |
| Clothing/Accessory Store | 4 |
| Sports/Hobby/Book/Music | 8 |
| General Merchandise Str | 9 |
| Transportation/Warehouse | 36 |
| Information | 28 |
| Finance & Insurance | 119 |
| Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn | 62 |
| Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv | 13 |
| Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other | 44 |
| Real Estate/Rent/Leasing | 39 |
| Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv | 61 |
| Legal Services | 19 |
| Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises | 2 |
| Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt | 4 |
| Educational Services | 587 |
| HealthCare/Social Assist | 371 |
| Arts/Entertainment/Rec | 64 |
| Accommodation/Food Srvcs | 123 |
| Accommodation | 8 |
| Food Srv/Drinking Places | 115 |
| Other Srv excl Pub Admin | 252 |
| Auto Repair/Maintenance | 156 |
| Public Administration Emp | 163 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Educational Attainment (25+)
| Forest City | 2026 |
|---|---|
| <9th Grade | 29 |
| Some High School | 123 |
| GED | 58 |
| Graduated High School | 554 |
| Some College/No Degree | 718 |
| Associates Degree | 532 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 450 |
| Graduate Degree | 328 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
Back To TopBusinesses
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Businesses by NAICS
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Total Businesses | 266 |
| Agr/Forestry/Fish/Hunt Bus | 1 |
| Mining Bus | 0 |
| Utilities Bus | 1 |
| Construction Bus | 16 |
| Manufacturing Bus | 8 |
| Wholesale Trade Bus | 6 |
| Retail Trade Bus | 31 |
| Motor Veh/Parts Dealers Bus | 7 |
| Furn & Home Furnish Str Bus | 1 |
| Electronics & Appl Store Bus | 0 |
| Bldg Matl/Garden Equip Bus | 4 |
| Food & Beverage Stores Bus | 5 |
| Health/Pers Care Stores Bus | 2 |
| Gasoline Stations Bus | 4 |
| Clothing/Accessory Store Bus | 2 |
| Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Bus | 4 |
| General Merchandise Str Bus | 2 |
| Transportation/Warehouse Bus | 8 |
| Information Bus | 7 |
| Finance & Insurance Bus | 16 |
| Cntrl Bank/Crdt Intrmdtn Bus | 3 |
| Sec/Cmdty Cntrct/Oth Inv Bus | 5 |
| Insur/Funds/Trusts/Other Bus | 8 |
| Real Estate/Rent/Leasing Bus | 12 |
| Prof/Scientific/Tech Srv Bus | 20 |
| Legal Services Bus | 6 |
| Mgmt of Comp/Enterprises Bus | 2 |
| Admin/Support/Waste Mgmt Bus | 2 |
| Educational Services Bus | 12 |
| HealthCare/Social Assist Bus | 32 |
| Arts/Entertainment/Rec Bus | 9 |
| Accommodation/Food Srvcs Bus | 15 |
| Accommodation Bus | 2 |
| Food Srv/Drinking Places Bus | 13 |
| Other Srv excl Pub Admin Bus | 32 |
| Auto Repair/Maintenance Bus | 4 |
| Public Administration Bus | 29 |
Source: ESRI, 2026-09-09
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