The Town FilesForest, Wisconsin
Town in Fond du Lac County · population 975 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,300
- Household income
- $112,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 46.3
Forest is a town of 975 people in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $244,300, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 91% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 85% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 75% of Wisconsin towns.
How Forest ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest is worth $244,300, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $112,904, which is more affordable than 94% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,058 a month. 96.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,058 | $951 |
| Median household income | $112,904 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 96.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.1% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 17.5% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.0 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on July 18, 1996 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 1, 2026.
Severe weather in Fond du Lac County since 1996
Fond du Lac County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County had 45,047 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,238 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Forest
- Osceola, WI5.0 mi · 1,836 people · home $365,700
- Mount Calvary, WI5.1 mi · 548 people · home $231,500
- Greenbush, WI5.6 mi · 1,903 people · home $293,900
- Marshfield, WI6.3 mi · 1,123 people · home $301,400
- Empire, WI6.5 mi · 2,774 people · home $378,600
- Mitchell, WI7.7 mi · 1,900 people · home $357,900
- Eden, WI8.7 mi · 1,000 people · home $328,700
- Taycheedah, WI8.7 mi · 4,554 people · home $354,000
Forest questions
Is Forest, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest scores better for retirees than 73% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 73%. 31.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.3).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $244,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,904, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,058 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 43.0 inches of snow.
Does Forest get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on July 18, 1996. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)