The Town FilesForest, Mississippi
City in Scott County · population 5,430 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,100
- Household income
- $49,724
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 36.0
Forest is a city of 5,430 people in Scott County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $141,100, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks better transit than 100% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 81% of Mississippi towns.
How Forest ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest is worth $141,100, above the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $49,724, which is more affordable than 56% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 50.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,100 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $900 | $820 |
| Median household income | $49,724 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.8% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.1% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 32.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.8% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.7% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 83.3% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 61.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 65 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 29, 1976 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on March 26, 2023.
Severe weather in Scott County since 1996
Scott County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Scott County
Scott County had 13,546 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,025 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Forest
5 public schools with 2,501 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT CENTRAL ATTENDANCE CENTER | PK-12 | 871 | 13.6 |
| FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-4 | 726 | 14.0 |
| FOREST HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 453 | 15.6 |
| HAWKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 5-8 | 451 | 15.0 |
| FOREST SCOTT CO VOC TECH CENTER | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Forest
- Morton, MS10.7 mi · 3,711 people · home $84,200
- Newton, MS19.3 mi · 3,195 people · home $88,800
- Carthage, MS26.8 mi · 4,901 people · home $154,800
Forest questions
Is Forest, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest scores better for retirees than 21% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 27%. 13.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $141,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,724, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 89.8°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Forest get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 29, 1976. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)