What it's like to live in Forest Acres
Forest Acres is a small city in South Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Forest Acres deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, hot summers, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Forest Acres compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Forest Acres
Based on Forest Acres's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,526
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $50,520 a year
- 49% of Forest Acres renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$55,860
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,930
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 11% below US
$1,263/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,263 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $279,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $279,300 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.6% county unemployment
Unemployment in Richland County is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Richland County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 14% above US
375 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 3368/100k · Forest Acres Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 24% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 72% above US
62% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Congaree National Park (21 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Forest Acres's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and hot summers. A year of median rent ($1,263/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Forest Acres →·All South Carolina cities →
Other places near Forest Acres
All South Carolina guides →Moving to Dentsville →
2 mi away · pop. 15,209
Rent $1,250/mo · Income $45,473
Compare with Forest Acres →Moving to Columbia →
4 mi away · pop. 139,643
Rent $1,204/mo · Income $55,529
Compare with Forest Acres →Moving to St. Andrews →
7 mi away · pop. 19,868
Rent $1,088/mo · Income $46,511
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