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Living in
Forest Acres.
About
Life in Forest Acres
Forest Acres is a community of 10,491 people in South Carolina. The median household income is $78,306, median rent runs about $1,263 per month, and median home values are around $279,300. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.
Forest Acres at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Foreign-Born
3.0%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.0% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Forest Acres: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Forest Acres, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (16.9%), and 1.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.7%
of residents
65 and Older
22.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.4%
of households
Married Couples
38.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.11
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 7% above SC average
Rent, home values, and income in Forest Acres
In Forest Acres, rent runs 7% above the SC average, and home values are 8% above the SC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,736
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
77.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $338,810 (May 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for SC
Unemployment in Forest Acres
Unemployment in Richland County, which includes Forest Acres, is close to the SC average.
Unemployment rate
Forest Acres: Richland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Richland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Forest Acres is about 3% of Richland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Forest Acres Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.8 min avg
How Forest Acres residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Forest Acres, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
Small hub663k passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M 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 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Forest Acres runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
375.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,367.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Forest Acres Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Richland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Richland County, which includes Forest Acres, 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 | $338,000 |
| 2024 | 39 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.1M |
| 2023 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,800 |
| 2022 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $183,170 |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,040 |
| 2020 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $44,190 |
| 2019 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,920 |
| 2018 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5,900 |
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.
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Richland County, county-wide
Forest Acres is about 3% of Richland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Richland County, which includes Forest Acres, is typically good — 212 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
212
per year
Moderate Days
153
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Richland County, county-wide
Forest Acres is about 3% of Richland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate94°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Forest Acres has hot summers (avg high 94°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
80°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
94°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
107
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
33
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
117
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 37°F | 3.84" |
| Feb | 64°F | 40°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 72°F | 46°F | 4.11" |
| Apr | 81°F | 54°F | 2.92" |
| May | 87°F | 62°F | 3.63" |
| Jun | 93°F | 69°F | 5.41" |
| Jul | 96°F | 72°F | 5.17" |
| Aug | 94°F | 71°F | 5.01" |
| Sep | 89°F | 66°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 80°F | 54°F | 3.31" |
| Nov | 69°F | 44°F | 3.04" |
| Dec | 61°F | 39°F | 3.88" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Forest Acres
Uninsured
5.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Forest Acres's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Columbia
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · Columbia
G Werber Bryan Psych Hosp
Psychiatric · 3.6 mi away · Columbia
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.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Forest Acres
Forest Acres's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 62.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Forest Acres (within 15 miles)
University of South Carolina-Columbia
4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 29,820 students · in-state tuition $12,688 · 77% graduate · median earnings $69,024 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,536 students · in-state tuition $18,103 · 26% graduate · median earnings $36,562 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,343 students · in-state tuition $24,436 · 57% graduate · median earnings $46,266 (10 yrs after entry)
Columbia International University
6.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 716 students · in-state tuition $27,900 · 67% graduate · median earnings $44,657 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 576 students · in-state tuition $14,304 · 22% graduate · median earnings $32,754 (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: Congaree National Park, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Forest Acres
Forest Acres has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Congaree National Park (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Congaree National Park
National Park
21 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
80 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
80 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Forest Acres
Richland Library Cooper
5317 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia
Cities Near Forest Acres
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Forest Acres?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Forest Acres FAQ
Is Forest Acres, South Carolina affordable?⌄
Forest Acres's median rent is $1,263/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $78,306/year. Median home value is $279,300.
Is Forest Acres, South Carolina safe?⌄
Forest Acres's violent crime rate was 375 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3368 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Forest Acres, South Carolina?⌄
Richland County, which includes Forest Acres, 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 Acres, South Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Forest Acres is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,263/month and median household income is $78,306/year. The median home value is $279,300. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Forest Acres, South Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Forest Acres is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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