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Living in
Forest Park.
About
Life in Forest Park
This Cincinnati suburb of around 20,000 people offers a genuinely affordable slice of suburban life without the isolation—you're close enough to the city for job opportunities, but far enough out that your housing dollar stretches further. The job market is solid with unemployment around 4.6 percent, though many residents likely commute to Cincinnati proper for work (average commute is about 24 minutes), so you're trading a short drive for lower cost of living and a tighter-knit neighborhood feel. The community itself is notably diverse—about 65 percent African American, with growing Asian and Latino communities—which shapes a real neighborhood character rather than a generic suburb; the school district (Winton Woods City School District) covers the area and serves families who value staying rooted.
Forest Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.6%
Foreign-Born
16.7%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.7% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Forest Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Forest Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (20.8%), and 8.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.7%
of residents
65 and Older
14.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.4%
of households
Married Couples
37.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% above OH average
Rent, home values, and income in Forest Park
In Forest Park, rent runs 26% above the OH average, and home values are 11% below the OH average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,988
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
54.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $233,544 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OH
Unemployment in Forest Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hamilton County, which includes Forest Park, is close to the OH average.
Unemployment rate
Forest Park: Hamilton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Hamilton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Forest Park is about 2% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Forest Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area
Commute24 min avg
How Forest Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Forest Park, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 70% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
Medium hub4.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Forest Park runs 21% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
260
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,105
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Forest Park Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hamilton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hamilton County, which includes Forest Park, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,250 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $627,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $82,900 |
| 2022 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $203,250 |
| 2021 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $47,250 |
| 2020 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $278,100 |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $230,600 |
| 2018 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $137,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Forest Park is about 2% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality54 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hamilton County, which includes Forest Park, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
54
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
227
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Hamilton County, county-wide
Forest Park is about 2% of Hamilton County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Forest Park has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.3"
Annual Snowfall
16.0"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
143
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 22°F | 2.91" |
| Feb | 44°F | 23°F | 2.41" |
| Mar | 54°F | 32°F | 3.49" |
| Apr | 67°F | 42°F | 4.63" |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.59" |
| Jun | 83°F | 61°F | 4.06" |
| Jul | 87°F | 64°F | 3.67" |
| Aug | 86°F | 62°F | 2.95" |
| Sep | 80°F | 54°F | 3.04" |
| Oct | 68°F | 42°F | 3.17" |
| Nov | 55°F | 32°F | 3.16" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 3.34" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Forest Park
Uninsured
8.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Forest Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mercy Health - Fairfield Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Fairfield
Beckett Springs
Psychiatric · 5.5 mi away · West Chester
Glenwood Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.3 mi away · Cincinnati
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Forest Park
Forest Park's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Forest Park (within 15 miles)
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 29,882 students · in-state tuition $14,394 · 73% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College
7.6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,354 students · in-state tuition $7,416 · 29% graduate · median earnings $60,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,207 students · in-state tuition $52,680 · 71% graduate · median earnings $69,118 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 2,043 students · in-state tuition $7,709 · 26% graduate · median earnings $63,814 (10 yrs after entry)
The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
11.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 713 students · in-state tuition $17,318 · 64% graduate · median earnings $73,495 (10 yrs after entry)
Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science
10.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 690 students · in-state tuition $15,356 · 77% graduate · median earnings $72,043 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: William Howard Taft National Historic Site, 12 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Forest Park
Forest Park has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being William Howard Taft National Historic Site (12 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
William Howard Taft National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayDayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
National Historical Park
41 mi awayCharles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
National Monument
45 mi awayHopewell Culture National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayPublic Libraries in Forest Park
Forest Park
655 Waycross Rd., Forest Park
Cities Near Forest Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Forest Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Forest Park FAQ
Is Forest Park, Ohio affordable?⌄
Forest Park's median rent is $1,306/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $75,956/year. Median home value is $190,400.
Is Forest Park, Ohio safe?⌄
Forest Park's violent crime rate was 260 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1105 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Forest Park, Ohio?⌄
Hamilton County, which includes Forest Park, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Forest Park, Ohio?⌄
The cost of living in Forest Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,306/month and median household income is $75,956/year. The median home value is $190,400. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Forest Park, Ohio?⌄
The average commute in Forest Park is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from