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Living in
Forest.
Forest is an unincorporated community in Bedford County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Forest
Forest is a community of 12,476 people in Virginia. The median household income is $81,552, median rent runs about $1,315 per month, and median home values are around $319,100. Unemployment is low at 3.3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Forest at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Forest: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Forest, the largest foreign-born group is from India (23.3%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
54.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 17% below VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Forest
In Forest, rent runs 17% below the VA average, and home values are 17% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
89.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,364
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $414,040 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Forest
Unemployment in Bedford County, which includes Forest, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Forest: Bedford County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Bedford County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Forest Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.9 min avg
How Forest residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Forest, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field (LYH)
Regional airport · few flights72k passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Medium hub7.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 148 mi
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Major hub13.9M 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, which covers Forest, runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
101.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
477.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Bedford County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 20 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
51.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Bedford County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Bedford County, which includes Forest, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 20 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,500 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $295,940 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $205,600 |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $296,500 |
| 2020 | 11 | Heavy Rain | $240,000 |
| 2019 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $333,400 |
| 2018 | 23 | Heavy Rain | $382,400 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Bedford County, county-wide
Air Quality30 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lynchburg city, VA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 6 miles from Forest) is typically good — 92 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
30
Good Days
92
per year
Moderate Days
16
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Lynchburg city, VA (6 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 26°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Forest has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 26°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/26°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.6"
Annual Snowfall
12.4"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
119
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
119
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 25°F | 3.38" |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 2.85" |
| Mar | 58°F | 33°F | 3.66" |
| Apr | 68°F | 41°F | 3.64" |
| May | 75°F | 51°F | 4.18" |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.07" |
| Aug | 84°F | 63°F | 3.63" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.93" |
| Oct | 69°F | 44°F | 3.36" |
| Nov | 59°F | 33°F | 3.17" |
| Dec | 49°F | 28°F | 3.76" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Forest
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Forest's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centra Health - Lynchburg Gen Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Lynchburg
Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.5 mi away · Bedford
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.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Forest
Forest's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 45.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Forest (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 50,012 students · in-state tuition $23,171 · 47% graduate · median earnings $46,945 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,577 students · in-state tuition $38,150 · 64% graduate · median earnings $57,425 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 658 students · in-state tuition $31,590 · 52% graduate · median earnings $53,121 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 2-year · 219 students · in-state tuition $13,430 · 84% graduate · median earnings $57,204 (10 yrs after entry)
Virginia University of Lynchburg
7.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 125 students · in-state tuition $11,360 · 59% graduate · median earnings $31,749 (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: Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, 27 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Forest
Forest has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (27 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayBooker T Washington National Monument
National Monument
30 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
76 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
90 mi awayShenandoah National Park
National Park
90 mi awayBluestone National Scenic River
National Scenic River
94 mi awayNew River Gorge National Park & Preserve
National Park & Preserve
100 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Forest
Forest Library
15583 Forest Road, Forest
Cities Near Forest
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Forest?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Forest FAQ
Is Forest, Virginia affordable?⌄
Forest's median rent is $1,315/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $81,552/year. Median home value is $319,800.
Is Forest, Virginia safe?⌄
Forest is policed by the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 101 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 478 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Forest, Virginia?⌄
Bedford County, which includes Forest, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Forest, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Forest is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,315/month and median household income is $81,552/year. The median home value is $319,800. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Forest, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Forest is 22 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