Forest City, NC

This town of 7,448 residents needs 136 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
7,448 (2026)
Households
2,682
Median household income
$40,051 (2026)
Typical home value
$189,745
Owner-occupied
37%
Five-year housing need
136 units

Comparison to other North Carolina municipalities

Forest City: $40,051 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$18K >$156K
Forest City: 2.24 jobs to household ratio
<0.04 >3.14
Forest City: Permits since 2021 represent 3.4% of housing
<0.2% >30.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

In Forest City, NC, the typical home price of $189,745 is below the North Carolina average of $264,457. With a median household income of $40,051 in Forest City, NC, housing costs are a modest stretch for the typical household.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Forest City, NC has a population of roughly 7,363 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Forest City, NC has roughly 2,682 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Forest City, NC is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 71% of units. In Forest City, NC, renters make up the majority, with only 37% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Forest City, NC needs 136 new units over the next 5 years.

136
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
43
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.6 per 1,000 units.
84
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.2%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
9
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.31%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
136
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
27
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
4.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?