The Town FilesForest Acres, South Carolina
City in Richland County · population 10,617 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,300
- Household income
- $78,306
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 96°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.5
Forest Acres is a city of 10,617 people in Richland County, South Carolina. The median home is worth $279,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). It ranks more walkable than 96% of South Carolina towns, more vibrant than 95% of South Carolina towns, hipper than 95% of South Carolina towns.
How Forest Acres ranks
Percentile among South Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of South Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest Acres is worth $279,300, above the typical South Carolina town ($183,100). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $78,306, which is more affordable than 45% of South Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,263 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Acres | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,300 | $183,100 |
| Median rent | $1,263 | $937 |
| Median household income | $78,306 | $53,875 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 68.0% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Forest Acres
| People | Forest Acres | Typical South Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 40.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.0% | 20.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 17.8% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 6.8% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 25.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 87.8% |
Weather in Forest Acres
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 48.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical South Carolina town: 0.8 in). Expect about 108 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Acres since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical South Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 15, 1976 about 1.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 96 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on September 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Richland County since 1996
Richland County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3632: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 29, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4829: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3619: Hurricane Helene |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3606: Hurricane Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3597: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Richland County
Richland County had 227,771 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,784 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Forest Acres itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Towns near Forest Acres
- Woodfield, SC3.0 mi · 9,199 people · home $150,800
- Dentsville, SC3.1 mi · 14,431 people · home $163,700
- Columbia, SC3.9 mi · 136,632 people · home $264,300
- Capitol View, SC5.4 mi · 4,653 people · home $187,600
- Cayce, SC6.9 mi · 13,781 people · home $166,800
- St. Andrews, SC7.7 mi · 20,675 people · home $161,300
- West Columbia, SC7.8 mi · 17,416 people · home $201,700
- Springdale, SC9.4 mi · 2,744 people · home $221,700
Forest Acres questions
Is Forest Acres, South Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Acres scores better for retirees than 80% of South Carolina towns and quieter than 25%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Forest Acres?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Acres is valued at $279,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,306, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,263 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Acres?
July highs average 95.6°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Forest Acres get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Acres since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 15, 1976. The typical South Carolina town has had 17.
- 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)