The Town FilesForest City, Pennsylvania
Borough in Susquehanna County · population 1,780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,900
- Household income
- $57,404
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 46.2
Forest City is a borough of 1,780 people in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $143,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more of a college town than 90% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 86% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Forest City ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest City is worth $143,900, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $57,404, which is more affordable than 70% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $879 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,900 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $879 | $996 |
| Median household income | $57,404 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest City
| People | Forest City | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Forest City
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.2 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 23, 2010 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Susquehanna County since 1996
Susquehanna County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4815: Tropical Storm Debby |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| November 27, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4408: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County had 8,955 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,769 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Forest City itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Forest City
2 public schools with 763 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Regional El Sch | PK-6 | 420 | 11.1 |
| Forest City Regional HS | 7-12 | 343 | 11.4 |
Towns near Forest City
- Vandling, PA1.8 mi · 730 people · home $181,000
- Clinton, PA3.1 mi · 2,040 people · home $228,300
- Fell, PA3.7 mi · 2,338 people · home $173,100
- Simpson, PA4.0 mi · 1,336 people · home $158,000
- Clifford, PA4.6 mi · 2,097 people · home $268,000
- Waymart, PA5.7 mi · 1,297 people · home $193,600
- Carbondale, PA5.9 mi · 8,828 people · home $132,200
- Herrick, PA6.6 mi · 710 people · home $280,200
Forest City questions
Is Forest City, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest City scores better for retirees than 93% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 28%. 25.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Forest City?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest City is valued at $143,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,404, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $879 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest City?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 69.2 inches of snow.
Does Forest City get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 23, 2010. The typical Pennsylvania 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)