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Forest City, IA
City in Hancock County, Iowa.
Population
4,290
Land area
4.6sq mi
People per sq mi
935
ZIP codes
0
Forest City and its ZIP codes
Forest City at a glance
- Forest City is about 16 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 98th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $69,205 a year, 8% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $143,500 (31% below Iowa) and median rent is $720 a month.
Local data for Forest City, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Forest City, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$69,205
Poverty rate
12.4%
Median home value
$143,500
Median rent
$720/mo
Homeownership
66.7%
Bachelor's or higher
29.2%
Median age
34.4
Average commute
12.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,623), Norwegian Americans (872), Irish Americans (395).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Hancock County. PPP loans are for Forest City.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$60,989
5,761 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$68,162
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$107M
FY 2026, $9,878 per person
How people get to work
Forest City, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.1%
- Carpooled7.1%
- Public transit0.2%
- Walked8.5%
- Bicycle1.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.7%
- Worked from home6.0%
Average one-way commute: 12.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forest City, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
498
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
6
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
81° / 6°F
35.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forest City, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.4%
U.S. 33.3% +4.1 pts
Diabetes
10.2%
U.S. 12.1% -1.9 pts
Smoking
13.5%
U.S. 12.8% +0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.0%
U.S. 11.1% -4.1 pts
Cities near Forest City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MillerCensus-designated place | 4.8 mi | 2.1 |
| LelandCity | 5.3 mi | 1.3 |
| HayfieldCensus-designated place | 5.8 mi | 1 |
| Crystal LakeCity | 8 mi | 0.2 |
| ThompsonCity | 11 mi | 0.9 |
| GarnerCity | 11 mi | 2.1 |
| DuncanCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| FertileCity | 11 mi | 0.9 |
| JoiceCity | 12 mi | 1.1 |
| VenturaCity | 12 mi | 1.8 |
| Lake MillsCity | 13 mi | 2.7 |
| HanlontownCity | 13 mi | 1 |
| BrittCity | 13 mi | 1.3 |
| WodenCity | 14 mi | 0.5 |
| ScarvilleCity | 15 mi | 0.2 |
| Clear LakeCity | 15 mi | 10.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Forest City, IA in?
- Forest City is in Hancock County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Forest City, IA?
- About 4,290 people live in Forest City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Forest City?
- Nearby places include Miller (4.8 mi), Leland (5.3 mi), Hayfield (5.8 mi), Crystal Lake (8 mi), Thompson (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023