salaryRent is higher than in 60% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.6 years of household income. Most homes (75.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $73,880 a year. That is $36 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Virginia cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Virginia. It is number 77 of 199 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Forest?
Share of households by yearly income. 29.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Forest
| Size | Forest | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $879 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $815 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,217 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,611 | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Forest overall?
Everyday prices in Virginia overall are 1% above the U.S. average (index 101.1, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Forest, so the Virginia figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Forest
Life in Forest
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forest?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $372 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $319,800 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $31,980 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Forest, VA?
Renting in Forest costs a median of about $1,847 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Virginia median is $2,049.
How much do I need to make to live in Forest?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $73,880 a year, or $36 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Forest cheap or expensive?
Forest is rated OK: rent takes 25.2% of the typical household income of $87,954. It ranks 77th cheapest of 199 Virginia cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Forest?
The median homeowner in Forest pays $1,364 a year in property taxes, about 0.43% of the median home value.
Is Forest more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Virginia are 1% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Forest?
The median home value in Forest is $319,800, about 3.6 times the typical yearly household income.
13,430 people live in Forest. Numbers are typical (middle) values.