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Forest, VA
Census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia. ZIP codes: 24551.
Population
13,430
Land area
13.6sq mi
People per sq mi
987
ZIP codes
1
Forest and its ZIP codes
Forest at a glance
- Forest is about 4.5 times as dense as Virginia as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 102nd among 681 cities and towns in Virginia.
- The median household income is $81,552, 12% below the Virginia median of $93,170.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $319,800 (17% below Virginia) and median rent is $1,315 a month.
Local data for Forest, VA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Forest, VA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$81,552
Poverty rate
9.6%
Median home value
$319,800
Median rent
$1,315/mo
Homeownership
75.9%
Bachelor's or higher
45.6%
Median age
39.2
Average commute
21.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,636), Irish Americans (1,410), Polish Americans (464).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Bedford County. PPP loans are for Forest.
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,145
18,784 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,072
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$662M
FY 2026, $8,325 per person
PPP loans
$59.39M
624 loans, 7,877 jobs reported
How people get to work
Forest, VA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.4%
- Carpooled3.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home15.6%
Average one-way commute: 21.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Forest, VA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
840
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
109
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 25°F
43.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Forest, VA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.6%
U.S. 33.3% +1.3 pts
Diabetes
11.4%
U.S. 12.1% -0.7 pts
Smoking
10.6%
U.S. 12.8% -2.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.3%
U.S. 11.1% -4.8 pts
ZIP codes in Forest
1 in or overlapping Forest. Population shown
Cities near Forest
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| TimberlakeCensus-designated place | 3.6 mi | 11.2 |
| LynchburgCity | 5.4 mi | 48.9 |
| RustburgCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 12.5 |
| Madison HeightsCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 19.2 |
| Big IslandCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 0.8 |
| BedfordTown | 14 mi | 11.1 |
| ConcordCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 5.6 |
| AltavistaTown | 16 mi | 5.4 |
| HurtTown | 19 mi | 3.5 |
| AmherstTown | 19 mi | 4.9 |
| GlasgowTown | 21 mi | 1.5 |
| MotleyCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 4 |
| MonetaCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 3.8 |
| AppomattoxTown | 25 mi | 2.2 |
| MontvaleCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 2.4 |
| BuchananTown | 25 mi | 2.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Forest, VA in?
- Forest is in Bedford County, Virginia.
- What ZIP codes are in Forest, VA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Forest include 24551.
- What is the population of Forest, VA?
- About 13,430 people live in Forest, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Forest?
- Nearby places include Timberlake (3.6 mi), Lynchburg (5.4 mi), Rustburg (11 mi), Madison Heights (11 mi), Big Island (13 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023