The Town FilesForest Heights, Maryland
Town in Prince George's County · population 2,658 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $371,700
- Household income
- $98,734
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 39.1
Forest Heights is a town of 2,658 people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $371,700, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks more vibrant than 86% of Maryland towns, better for first-time buyers than 83% of Maryland towns, better transit than 71% of Maryland towns.
How Forest Heights ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest Heights is worth $371,700, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $98,734, which is more affordable than 52% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,484 a month. 93.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Heights | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $371,700 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,484 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $98,734 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.8% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest Heights
| People | Forest Heights | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.9% | — |
| Work from home | 19.0% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 94.3% |
Weather in Forest Heights
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.7 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Heights since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Prince George's County since 1996
Prince George's County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Prince George's County
Prince George's County had 329,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,373 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Forest Heights itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Towns near Forest Heights
- National Harbor, MD1.4 mi · 5,509 people · home $472,500
- Glassmanor, MD1.8 mi · 18,430 people · home $351,000
- Oxon Hill, MD2.4 mi · 18,791 people · home $359,800
- Belle Haven, VA3.1 mi · 6,851 people · home $689,400
- Hillcrest Heights, MD3.2 mi · 15,793 people · home $364,000
- Temple Hills, MD3.4 mi · 8,350 people · home $366,200
- Huntington, VA3.4 mi · 13,749 people · home $541,900
- Marlow Heights, MD3.8 mi · 6,169 people · home $387,600
Forest Heights questions
Is Forest Heights, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Heights scores better for retirees than 40% of Maryland towns and quieter than 66%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Forest Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Heights is valued at $371,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,734, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,484 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Heights?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.7 inches of snow.
Does Forest Heights get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)