The Town FilesForest, Virginia
Community in Bedford County · population 11,709 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $319,800
- Household income
- $81,552
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.2
Forest is a community of 11,709 people in Bedford County, Virginia. The median home is worth $319,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Forest ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest is worth $319,800, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $81,552, which is more affordable than 48% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,315 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $319,800 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,315 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $81,552 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Forest
| People | Forest | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.6% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 91.8% |
Weather in Forest
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 15, 2018 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 28, 2016.
Severe weather in Bedford County since 1996
Bedford County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 4, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4863: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding |
| October 1, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4831: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 29, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3621: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene |
| May 10, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4602: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Bedford County
Bedford County had 18,602 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,340 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Forest itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Forest
5 public schools with 3,430 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Forest High | 9-12 | 1,311 | 16.6 |
| Forest Middle | 6-8 | 890 | 16.2 |
| Thomas Jefferson Elementary | PK-5 | 540 | 15.9 |
| Forest Elementary | PK-5 | 362 | 19.1 |
| New London Academy Elementary | PK-5 | 327 | 17.2 |
Towns near Forest
- Timberlake, VA4.3 mi · 13,267 people · home $235,900
- Lynchburg, VA4.8 mi · 79,009 people · home $229,800
- Madison Heights, VA10.6 mi · 10,893 people · home $191,300
- Bedford, VA13.2 mi · 6,657 people · home $222,500
- Altavista, VA17.4 mi · 3,378 people · home $142,900
- Buena Vista, VA24.9 mi · 6,641 people · home $156,200
- North Shore, VA28.7 mi · 3,332 people · home $504,400
- Lexington, VA29.6 mi · 7,320 people · home $275,200
Forest questions
Is Forest, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest scores better for retirees than 85% of Virginia towns and quieter than 47%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest is valued at $319,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,552, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,315 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest?
July highs average 85.3°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 12.4 inches of snow.
Does Forest get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 15, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)