The Town FilesForest City, Iowa
City in Winnebago County · population 4,285 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $143,500
- Household income
- $69,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 34.4
Forest City is a city of 4,285 people in Winnebago County, Iowa. The median home is worth $143,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Iowa towns, better transit than 97% of Iowa towns, hipper than 96% of Iowa towns.
How Forest City ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest City is worth $143,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $69,205, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $720 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $720 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,205 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Forest City
| People | Forest City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Forest City
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.6°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 22, 1997.
Severe weather in Winnebago County since 1996
Winnebago County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winnebago County
Winnebago County had 4,041 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,021 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Forest City itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Forest City
3 public schools with 1,114 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Elementary School | PK-4 | 462 | 13.2 |
| Forest City High School | 9-12 | 333 | 12.8 |
| Forest City Middle School | 5-8 | 319 | 13.3 |
Towns near Forest City
- Garner, IA11.0 mi · 3,065 people · home $186,300
- Clear Lake, IA15.7 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Mason City, IA23.2 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
Forest City questions
Is Forest City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest City scores better for retirees than 52% of Iowa towns and quieter than 6%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.4).
How much does a house cost in Forest City?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest City is valued at $143,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,205, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $720 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest City?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 5.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 40.8 inches of snow.
Does Forest City get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)