Your life in Forest County, Pennsylvania

What stands out

Against every county in America, Forest County is unusual in three ways: natural-hazard risk is among the safest in America (1 of 100), unemployment is in the top 2% of American counties (6.5%), and population growth is in the bottom 2% of American counties (-2.3% a year). Within Pennsylvania it ranks 2nd of 67 counties for natural-hazard risk, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Forest County, Pennsylvania. 6,959 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population shrank 2.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -62).

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% income tax and exempts all retirement income, including Social Security, pensions and 401(k) and IRA withdrawals after age 59½. It is one of six states with an inheritance tax, which applies even to children at 4.5%. Local earned-income taxes of 1% to nearly 4% apply in most municipalities, and Philadelphia's wage tax is the highest of any city in the country.

Money

The typical household here brings in $46,188 a year, lower than 86% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $57,723. Unemployment runs 6.5%, higher than 98% of American counties. 11% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 23 minutes each way.

Pennsylvania takes 3.1% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,418 a year.

Home

The median home costs $136K, cheaper than 89% of American counties, about 1.8 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $569 a month. Property tax is 1.08% of home value, roughly $1,108 a year on that median home, higher than 66% of American counties. 83% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.1 per 1,000 residents, higher than 65% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 73.6 years, shorter than 75% of American counties. There are 0 active physicians in the county, about 0.0 per 10,000 people; the nearest doctor is in another county. 9.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.27 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 82% of American counties. 86% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 40 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 39% of eligible voters turned out. Under Pennsylvania law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 47°F, highs near 58 and lows near 37, colder than 83% of American counties. About 43 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 1 out of 100, safer than almost every county in America; the county has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 125 Mbps down, slower than 80% of American counties. There are 0 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.0 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Pennsylvania tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.