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Forest City, NC
Town in Rutherford County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28043.
Population
7,363
Land area
8.6sq mi
People per sq mi
857
ZIP codes
1
Forest City and its ZIP codes
Forest City at a glance
- Forest City is about 3.9 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 130th among 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- The median household income is $35,524, 51% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $160,800 (44% below North Carolina) and median rent is $813 a month.
Local data for Forest City, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Forest City, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$35,524
Poverty rate
32.1%
Median home value
$160,800
Median rent
$813/mo
Homeownership
45.4%
Bachelor's or higher
14.7%
Median age
35.1
Average commute
26.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (737), Mexican Americans (562), Irish Americans (492).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Rutherford County. PPP loans are for Forest City.
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,049
18,151 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$47,500
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$651M
FY 2026, $10,100 per person
PPP loans
$22.2M
343 loans, 3,295 jobs reported
How people get to work
Forest City, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.5%
- Carpooled10.1%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked2.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home6.0%
Average one-way commute: 26.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forest City, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
601
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
102
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 27°F
52.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forest City, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
42.7%
U.S. 33.3% +9.4 pts
Diabetes
16.9%
U.S. 12.1% +4.8 pts
Smoking
21.0%
U.S. 12.8% +8.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
15.0%
U.S. 11.1% +3.9 pts
ZIP codes in Forest City
1 in or overlapping Forest City. Population shown
Cities near Forest City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BosticTown | 2.7 mi | 0.9 |
| SpindaleTown | 3.6 mi | 5.4 |
| RutherfordtonTown | 5.5 mi | 4.1 |
| CaroleenCensus-designated place | 5.5 mi | 1.1 |
| RuthTown | 5.5 mi | 0.4 |
| EllenboroTown | 6.1 mi | 1.3 |
| HenriettaCensus-designated place | 6.4 mi | 0.6 |
| CliffsideCensus-designated place | 8.3 mi | 2.3 |
| MooresboroTown | 9.8 mi | 1.8 |
| LattimoreTown | 12 mi | 1 |
| Boiling SpringsTown | 13 mi | 4.5 |
| Chesnee, SCCity | 13 mi | 1.1 |
| PolkvilleCity | 14 mi | 1.9 |
| KingstownTown | 14 mi | 1.8 |
| Fingerville, SCCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.2 |
| Mayo, SCCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Forest City, NC in?
- Forest City is in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Forest City, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Forest City include 28043.
- What is the population of Forest City, NC?
- About 7,363 people live in Forest City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Forest City?
- Nearby places include Bostic (2.7 mi), Spindale (3.6 mi), Rutherfordton (5.5 mi), Caroleen (5.5 mi), Ruth (5.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023