Forest, Virginia Population 2026
Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
The population of Forest, Virginia is 12,476 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 109th-largest city in Virginia. The median household income is $78,825, the median home value is $319,100, and the median age is 42.1.
12,476
Population
917
People / sq mi
$78,825
Median Income
$319,100
Median Home Value
Forest covers 13.6 sq mi of land at 917 people per square mile.
About Forest, VA
Forest is a city in Virginia with a population of 12,476. It ranks #109 among cities in Virginia by population. The median age is 42.1, older than the national median. The population is 43.4% male and 56.6% female.
The median household income in Forest is $78,825, above the US median of $74,580. 3.6% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $319,100, with monthly rent averaging $1,112. The homeownership rate of 75.0% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.
Educational attainment in Forest reflects 48.4% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 16.0% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 21.5 minutes each way.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 77.3% |
| Black or African American | 10.1% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
Economy & Income
$78,825
Median Household Income
$45,287
Per Capita Income
3.6%
Poverty Rate
2.3%
Unemployment Rate
Housing
$319,100
Median Home Value
$1,112
Median Rent
75.0%
Owner-Occupied
Education
95.3%
High School+
48.4%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.0%
Drive Alone
77.1%
Public Transit
16.0%
Work From Home
21.5 min
Avg Commute
Community Profile
44.0%
Foreign Born
94.9%
Non-English at Home
7.7%
Veterans
8.7%
With Disability
96.1%
Health Insurance
96.7%
Internet Access
Employment by Industry
| Professional, Scientific & Management | 34.0% |
| Information | 10.6% |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 9.3% |
| Manufacturing | 9.2% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Food Services | 8.9% |
| Education, Health Care & Social Services | 6.0% |
| Public Administration | 3.4% |
| Construction | 3.0% |
| Retail Trade | 1.4% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 1.3% |
| Agriculture & Mining | 0.8% |
Largest cities in Virginia
Largest counties in Virginia
Part of Virginia
Metro areas in Virginia
City rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Forest, Virginia has a population of 12,476 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 109th-largest city in Virginia.
The median household income in Forest, Virginia is $78,825, with 3.6% of residents living below the federal poverty level.
The median home value in Forest, Virginia is $319,100, with median monthly rent at $1,112 and a homeownership rate of 75.0%.
The median age in Forest, Virginia is 42.1 years. The population is 43.4% male and 56.6% female.
More from Virginia
Population 457,066
Population 251,153
Population 235,463
Population 235,037
Population 227,595
Full rankings of Virginia cities by population
Statewide data for Virginia
Population, race, income, age, and trends across Virginia
Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.