The typical owner-occupied home in Forrest is worth about $113,000, 57% below the Illinois median of $263,300 and 66% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,910 a year in property taxes, about 2.58% of their home's value, higher than the Illinois rate of 2.01%. The median household earns $73,426 a year, so the median home costs 1.5 times the median income (3.2 times for Illinois). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 59% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Forrest at a glance
| Forrest | Illinois | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,000 | $263,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,910 | $5,298 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 2.58% | 2.01% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $73,426 | $83,390 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 79% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 59% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,158 | $1,987 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 13.4% | 20.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $730 | $1,274 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 20.5% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1955 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 2.4% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 994 | 12,694,798 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Forrest
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Forrest home of $113,000 with 20% down costs about $898 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,086, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $38,493 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 15% of the median Forrest household income of $73,426; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $216,000.
The median rent here is $730 a month, so owning the median home costs about $168 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $22,600 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $90,400 |
| Principal and interest | $608 |
| Property taxes (2.58% a year) | $243 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $47 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $898 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $3,955 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $110,953 |
| Principal and interest | $746 |
| Property taxes (2.58% a year) | $243 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $47 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $50 |
| Total per month | $1,086 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Forrest
What is the median home value in Forrest?
About $113,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Forrest?
Homeowners pay a median $2,910 a year, which is about 2.58% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Forrest?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $898 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $38,493 a year.
More about Forrest
- Mortgage Refinance in Forrest
- Debt Relief in Forrest
- Home Equity Loans in Forrest
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data