Forest, MS
Census place 2825340 · pop 5,357
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
42.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
33.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
23.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
43.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
83.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
19.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
707 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-4.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$49,724 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
50.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
19.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
18.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.89% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
879 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
72/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$141,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
Not measured for Forest: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Forest, MS a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Forest scores 38/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is housing cost and its weakest is physical inactivity. Mississippi overall ranks #27 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Forest, MS?
- Forest reports 707 violent crimes per 100k and 879 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Forest, MS expensive to live in?
- Forest has a median home value of $141,100 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Forest, MS?
- Its weakest measured area is physical inactivity (42.9%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Forest, MS best at?
- Its strongest measured area is housing cost ($141,100) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.