The Town FilesForks, Washington
City in Clallam County · population 3,335 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,200
- Household income
- $60,481
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.3
Forks is a city of 3,335 people in Clallam County, Washington. The median home is worth $227,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Washington towns, better for cycling than 81% of Washington towns, more seaside character than 74% of Washington towns.
How Forks ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forks is worth $227,200, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $60,481, which is more affordable than 91% of Washington towns. Median rent is $921 a month. 52.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forks | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,200 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $921 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $60,481 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 52.3% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.0% | — |
Who lives in Forks
| People | Forks | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Forks
July highs average 73.1°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 119.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 60 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Forks since 1950.
Severe weather in Clallam County since 1996
Clallam County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4682: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clallam County
Clallam County had 24,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,860 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Forks itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Forks
4 public schools with 977 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forks Elementary School | PK-4 | 416 | 17.3 |
| Forks High School | 9-12 | 281 | 13.4 |
| Forks Middle School | 5-8 | 260 | 10.8 |
| District Run Home School | K-12 | 20 | 20.0 |
Forks questions
Is Forks, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forks scores better for retirees than 39% of Washington towns and quieter than 52%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Forks?
The median owner-occupied home in Forks is valued at $227,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,481, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $921 a month.
What is the weather like in Forks?
July highs average 73.1°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 119.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Forks get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Forks in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)