The Town FilesForest Oaks, North Carolina
Community in Guilford County · population 4,209 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $349,300
- Household income
- $107,604
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 48.4
Forest Oaks is a community of 4,209 people in Guilford County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $349,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 95% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 94% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns.
How Forest Oaks 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 Oaks is worth $349,300, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $107,604, which is more affordable than 72% of North Carolina towns. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Oaks | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $349,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $107,604 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Forest Oaks
| People | Forest Oaks | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.4 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.8% | — |
| Work from home | 20.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Forest Oaks
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.8°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 63 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Oaks since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 15, 2018 about 5.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 22, 1985.
Severe weather in Guilford County since 1996
Guilford County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Guilford County
Guilford County had 287,996 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,546 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Forest Oaks itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Forest Oaks
- Pleasant Garden, NC3.6 mi · 5,000 people · home $223,500
- Greensboro, NC9.8 mi · 299,035 people · home $244,800
- Liberty, NC12.1 mi · 2,655 people · home $194,500
- Gibsonville, NC12.1 mi · 8,920 people · home $298,000
- Jamestown, NC12.7 mi · 3,668 people · home $326,800
- Randleman, NC13.2 mi · 4,595 people · home $184,700
- Elon, NC13.6 mi · 11,336 people · home $366,300
- Burlington, NC14.7 mi · 57,303 people · home $199,200
Forest Oaks questions
Is Forest Oaks, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Oaks scores better for retirees than 91% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 78%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.4).
How much does a house cost in Forest Oaks?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Oaks is valued at $349,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,604, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Oaks?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 29.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.1 inches of snow.
Does Forest Oaks get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Oaks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 15, 2018. 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)