The Town FilesForest City, North Carolina
Town in Rutherford County · population 7,377 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,800
- Household income
- $35,524
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 35.1
Forest City is a town of 7,377 people in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $160,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 91% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 84% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Forest City ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest City is worth $160,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $35,524, which is more affordable than 25% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $813 a month. 45.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $813 | $969 |
| Median household income | $35,524 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 45.4% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Forest City
| People | Forest City | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.1% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Forest City
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 27.3°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 99 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 10, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 6, 2022.
Severe weather in Rutherford County since 1996
Rutherford County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Rutherford County
Rutherford County had 17,994 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,125 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Forest City itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Forest City
7 public schools with 2,781 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase High School | 9-12 | 625 | 14.5 |
| Forest City-Dunbar Elementary School | PK-5 | 487 | 15.7 |
| Chase Middle School | 6-8 | 481 | 17.8 |
| Harris Elementary School | PK-5 | 440 | 15.2 |
| Forrest W. Hunt Elementary School | PK-5 | 406 | 15.6 |
| Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School | PK-5 | 244 | 13.6 |
| Rutherford Opportunity Center | 6-12 | 98 | 6.5 |
Towns near Forest City
- Spindale, NC3.4 mi · 4,225 people · home $167,400
- Rutherfordton, NC5.5 mi · 3,640 people · home $288,400
- Caroleen, NC5.8 mi · 560 people · home $137,500
- Ellenboro, NC6.2 mi · 723 people · home $164,400
- Cliffside, NC8.4 mi · 530 people · home —
- Boiling Springs, NC13.0 mi · 4,615 people · home $265,400
- Chesnee, SC13.0 mi · 829 people · home $103,700
- Polkville, NC14.0 mi · 516 people · home $179,500
Forest City questions
Is Forest City, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest City scores better for retirees than 10% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 14%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Forest City?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest City is valued at $160,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,524, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $813 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest City?
July highs average 88.9°F and January lows 27.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Forest City get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)