The Town FilesForrest, Illinois
Village in Livingston County · population 1,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,000
- Household income
- $73,426
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.1
Forrest is a village of 1,041 people in Livingston County, Illinois. The median home is worth $113,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Illinois towns, better for families than 86% of Illinois towns, quieter than 78% of Illinois towns.
How Forrest ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forrest is worth $113,000, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $73,426, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $730 a month. 79.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forrest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,000 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $730 | $960 |
| Median household income | $73,426 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.0% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forrest
| People | Forrest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Forrest
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 44.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forrest since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 7, 1954 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 7, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1747: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 13,762 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,455 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Forrest itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Forrest
2 public schools with 452 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie Central Jr High School | 7-8 | 232 | 10.5 |
| Prairie Central Upper Elementary | 5-6 | 220 | 10.5 |
Towns near Forrest
- Fairbury, IL5.6 mi · 3,633 people · home $162,200
- Chatsworth, IL6.1 mi · 1,185 people · home $103,200
- Cullom, IL11.4 mi · 520 people · home $100,800
- Piper City, IL11.6 mi · 745 people · home $80,400
- Pontiac, IL15.4 mi · 11,150 people · home $116,300
- Chenoa, IL16.7 mi · 1,720 people · home $124,700
- Colfax, IL16.7 mi · 996 people · home $136,300
- Odell, IL18.3 mi · 1,003 people · home $121,000
Forrest questions
Is Forrest, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forrest scores better for retirees than 33% of Illinois towns and quieter than 78%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Forrest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forrest is valued at $113,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,426, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $730 a month.
What is the weather like in Forrest?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 14.0 inches of snow.
Does Forrest get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forrest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 7, 1954. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)