The Town FilesForest, Wisconsin
Town in St. Croix County · population 638 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $403,500
- Household income
- $116,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.9
Forest is a town of 638 people in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $403,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 94% 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 $403,500, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $116,118, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,344 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $403,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,344 | $951 |
| Median household income | $116,118 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 89.1% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.6 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 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. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 30, 1977 about 0.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 55 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 16, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 29 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 30, 2024.
Severe weather in St. Croix County since 1996
St. Croix County has been included in 11 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 |
| August 8, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4141: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in St. Croix County
St. Croix County had 36,959 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,261 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near Forest
- Cylon, WI5.3 mi · 708 people · home $328,600
- Glenwood, WI5.7 mi · 747 people · home $339,500
- Clear Lake, WI6.2 mi · 888 people · home $283,000
- Clear Lake, WI6.3 mi · 1,099 people · home $198,700
- Emerald, WI6.5 mi · 831 people · home $299,100
- New Haven, WI6.6 mi · 673 people · home $219,300
- Glenwood City, WI8.1 mi · 1,306 people · home $176,700
- Black Brook, WI8.2 mi · 1,425 people · home $361,100
Forest questions
Is Forest, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest scores better for retirees than 17% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 61%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $403,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,118, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,344 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 46.6 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 F3 on July 30, 1977. 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)