The Town FilesForest, Wisconsin
Town in Vernon County · population 617 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,500
- Household income
- $61,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 43.2
Forest is a town of 617 people in Vernon County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $257,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better transit than 80% of Wisconsin towns, better for a vacation home than 76% 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 $257,500, close to the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $61,833, which is more affordable than 9% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $914 a month. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,500 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $914 | $951 |
| Median household income | $61,833 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.2% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 5.6°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.1 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 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 EF3, struck on April 14, 2026 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Vernon County since 1996
Vernon County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 18, 2018 | Flood | DR-4402: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
Jobs and pay in Vernon County
Vernon County had 8,718 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,085 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Forest
- Wellington, WI5.5 mi · 666 people · home $316,100
- Ontario, WI5.6 mi · 534 people · home $141,700
- Hillsboro, WI6.1 mi · 787 people · home $208,900
- Union, WI6.5 mi · 809 people · home $192,900
- Whitestown, WI6.9 mi · 623 people · home $195,600
- Greenwood, WI8.0 mi · 923 people · home $249,400
- Glendale, WI8.1 mi · 663 people · home $301,400
- Hillsboro, WI8.1 mi · 1,397 people · home $155,800
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 41%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $257,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,833, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $914 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 5.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 41.1 inches of snow.
Does Forest get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 14, 2026. 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)