Checked
Forest, MS
City in Scott County, Mississippi. ZIP codes: 39074.
Population
5,357
Land area
13.1sq mi
People per sq mi
410
ZIP codes
1
Forest and its ZIP codes
Forest at a glance
- Forest is about 6.5 times as dense as Mississippi as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 66th among 420 cities and towns in Mississippi.
- The median household income is $49,724, 12% below the Mississippi median of $56,447.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $141,100 (17% below Mississippi) and median rent is $900 a month.
Local data for Forest, MS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Forest, MS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$49,724
Poverty rate
33.8%
Median home value
$141,100
Median rent
$900/mo
Homeownership
50.8%
Bachelor's or higher
19.9%
Median age
36.0
Average commute
19.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (702), Guatemalan Americans (479), Cuban Americans (332).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Scott County. PPP loans are for Forest.
Unemployment rate
2.7%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,999
13,651 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$41,946
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$170M
FY 2026, $6,072 per person
PPP loans
$18.3M
565 loans, 2,847 jobs reported
How people get to work
Forest, MS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone85.9%
- Carpooled7.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.1%
- Worked from home0.0%
Average one-way commute: 19.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forest, MS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
545
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
49
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 34°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forest, MS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
43.8%
U.S. 33.3% +10.5 pts
Diabetes
17.8%
U.S. 12.1% +5.7 pts
Smoking
19.4%
U.S. 12.8% +6.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
23.1%
U.S. 11.1% +12.0 pts
ZIP codes in Forest
1 in or overlapping Forest. Population shown
Cities near Forest
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HillsboroCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 9.1 |
| LakeTown | 9.6 mi | 5.1 |
| HarpervilleCensus-designated place | 9.9 mi | 1.4 |
| MortonCity | 12 mi | 8.9 |
| ConehattaCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 15.7 |
| Walnut GroveTown | 17 mi | 1.6 |
| PolkvilleTown | 17 mi | 17.2 |
| SebastopolTown | 17 mi | 1.6 |
| LenaTown | 18 mi | 1.7 |
| NewtonCity | 19 mi | 7.2 |
| PelahatchieTown | 19 mi | 5.9 |
| MontroseTown | 21 mi | 2.7 |
| DecaturTown | 22 mi | 5.5 |
| Standing PineCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 3.5 |
| RaleighTown | 22 mi | 5.1 |
| LouinTown | 23 mi | 6.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Forest, MS in?
- Forest is in Scott County, Mississippi.
- What ZIP codes are in Forest, MS?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Forest include 39074.
- What is the population of Forest, MS?
- About 5,357 people live in Forest, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Forest?
- Nearby places include Hillsboro (6.7 mi), Lake (9.6 mi), Harperville (9.9 mi), Morton (12 mi), Conehatta (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023