The Town FilesForest Park, Ohio
City in Hamilton County · population 20,189 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $190,400
- Household income
- $75,956
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 14 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 36.1
Forest Park is a city of 20,189 people in Hamilton County, Ohio. The median home is worth $190,400, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Ohio towns, more vibrant than 96% of Ohio towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Ohio towns.
How Forest Park ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest Park is worth $190,400, above the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $75,956, which is more affordable than 61% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $1,306 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Park | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,400 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $1,306 | $914 |
| Median household income | $75,956 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest Park
| People | Forest Park | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.6% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.7% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 90.9% |
Weather in Forest Park
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.7 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 116 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Park since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 596 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 1974.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 2, 2026 | Flood | DR-4945: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Landslides |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2018 | Flood | DR-4360: Severe Storms, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 515,652 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,924 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Forest Park itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Forest Park
- Greenhills, OH1.4 mi · 3,741 people · home $174,100
- Pleasant Run Farm, OH1.6 mi · 4,779 people · home $229,400
- New Burlington, OH2.1 mi · 5,049 people · home $238,500
- Mount Healthy Heights, OH2.6 mi · 2,918 people · home $145,900
- Pleasant Run, OH2.7 mi · 4,861 people · home $171,000
- Springdale, OH2.7 mi · 11,007 people · home $192,000
- Fairfield, OH3.2 mi · 44,907 people · home $234,500
- Woodlawn, OH3.6 mi · 3,916 people · home $249,300
Forest Park questions
Is Forest Park, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Park scores better for retirees than 32% of Ohio towns and quieter than 11%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Forest Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Park is valued at $190,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,956, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,306 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Park?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13.7 inches of snow.
Does Forest Park get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)