The Town FilesForest, Michigan
Township in Genesee County · population 4,447 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,900
- Household income
- $71,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 45.8
Forest is a township of 4,447 people in Genesee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $200,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Michigan towns, quieter than 76% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Forest ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest is worth $200,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $71,250, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $947 a month. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $947 | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 34.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 116. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 117 deaths and 850 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 17, 2024.
Severe weather in Genesee County since 1996
Genesee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| January 16, 2016 | Toxic Substances | EM-3375: Contaminated Water |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Genesee County
Genesee County had 133,787 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,798 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Forest
- Thetford, MI5.2 mi · 6,640 people · home $203,900
- Richfield, MI5.5 mi · 8,991 people · home $219,800
- Millington, MI5.6 mi · 4,246 people · home $174,600
- Marathon, MI6.6 mi · 4,467 people · home $186,300
- Genesee, MI7.7 mi · 20,581 people · home $125,400
- Arbela, MI8.3 mi · 2,808 people · home $150,400
- Oregon, MI8.9 mi · 5,712 people · home $236,400
- Mount Morris, MI9.6 mi · 3,170 people · home $86,600
Forest questions
Is Forest, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest scores better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 22.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $200,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,250, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $947 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Forest get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1953. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)