Forest Home, NY — City Data, Demographics & Statistics
Tompkins County · New York
City DNA
A unique fingerprint for Forest Home based on 8 key metrics — compared to averages.
Quick Stats
Population
1,164
2023 ACS
Median Income
$59,107
2023
Median Home Value
$496,900
2023
Median Rent
$1,378
2023
Median Age
29.4
Unemployment
5.3%
Cost of Living Index
141.0
100 = national avg
Forest Home is a city in Tompkins County, New York, with a population of 1,164 according to the 2023 American Community Survey. Forest Home is one of the communities in New York.
The median household income in Forest Home is $59,107, and the median home value is $496,900. The cost of living index is 141.0 (where 100 = national average), and the median rent is $1,378 per month. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, and the median age is 29.4 years.
People & Demographics
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Population
Total Population
1,164
Male
487
41.8%
Female
677
58.2%
Median Age
29.4
Education & Household
Bachelor's or Higher
66.0%
High School or Higher
66.4%
Foreign Born
58.5%
Veterans
0.3%
Married
44.1%
Avg Household Size
2.3
Marital Status by Age
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
0.679
Simpson's Index (0-1)
Largest Group
Asian
44.3%
Foreign Born
58.5%
Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity, not a race. People of any race can identify as Hispanic. This percentage overlaps with the racial categories above.
Hispanic/Latino
7.4%
86 people
Not Hispanic/Latino
92.6%
Hispanic/Latino Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Asian Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)American Indian & Alaska Native Detail
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Languages Spoken
Total Speakers (5+)
1,026
English Only
45.3%
#1 Non-English Language
Chinese
288 speakers
Limited English
23.9%
Language Distribution
English Proficiency
Speaks English Very Well
76.1%
Limited English Proficiency
23.9%
Veterans & Military
Total Veterans
4
0.3% of population
Disability Rate
0.0%
Period of Service
Veteran Age Distribution
Male Veterans
4
100.0%
Disability Status
Without Disability
4
Disability Rate
0.0%
Ancestry & Heritage
Total Reporting Ancestry
384
#1 Ancestry
German
6.4% (74)
#2 Ancestry
English
5.3% (62)
#3 Ancestry
Sub-Saharan African
4.2% (49)
Top 16 Ancestries
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Families & Households
Total Households
392
Family Households
227
57.9%
Married Couples
203
51.8%
Non-Family Households
165
42.1%
Single Mother Households
24
6.1%
Single Father Households
0
0.0%
Living Alone
99
25.3%
Children Under 18
Total Children
233
In Married Couple
228
97.9%
With Single Mother
5
2.1%
With Single Father
0
0.0%
Family Income
Median Family Income
$89,044
Married Couple Income
$91,964
Avg Family Size
2.3
Avg Non-Family Size
2.6
Grandparents w/ Grandchildren
7
Grandparents Responsible
0
Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023)Income Overview
Median Household Income
$59,107
-19% vs national
Per Capita Income
$45,266
+22% vs national
Poverty Rate
6.7%
-51% vs national
Gini Index
0.5471
0 = perfect equality
Unemployment
5.3%
+1% vs national
SNAP Recipients
0.8%
of households
How Forest Home Compares
Forest Home vs Similar Cities
Compared to cities with under 10,000 residents. Forest Home is highlighted.
Median Household Income
Forest Home, NY has a median household income of $59,107, making it the 16,913th highest median household income out of 28,123 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher median household income than 40% of all the cities we measured.
Per Capita Income
Forest Home, NY has a per capita income of $45,266, making it the 6,046th highest per capita income out of 28,123 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher per capita income than 79% of all the cities we measured.
Poverty Rate
Forest Home, NY has a poverty rate of 6.7%, making it the 21,333rd highest poverty rate out of 31,262 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher poverty rate than 32% of all the cities we measured.
Unemployment Rate
Forest Home, NY has a unemployment rate of 5.3%, making it the 10,935th highest unemployment rate out of 31,012 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher unemployment rate than 65% of all the cities we measured.
Where Do You Stack Up?
Enter your household income to see how you compare to other households in Forest Home. The median household income here is $59,107.
Income Distribution
Employment Snapshot
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
+5% vs NY avg
Labor Force
551
Employed
522
How People Get to Work
Employment by Sector
Education & Workforce
Bachelor's Degree+
66.0%
of adults 25+
High School Diploma+
66.4%
of adults 25+
Median Age
29.4
Work from Home
19.4%
of workers
Top Occupations & Wages
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (2024)
Data represents the Ithaca, NY metro area
Highest-Paying Job
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
Top Median Wage
$138.0K
per year
Occupations Tracked
20
Cost of Living
Overall Index
141.0
100 = national avg
+41.0 vs national average
Living Wage (1 Adult)
$62,052
per year
Living Wage (Family of 4)
$146,669
per year
Cost Index by Category
100 = national average. Higher = more expensive.
Fair Market Rent
Source: HUD
1 Bedroom
$1,466
per month
2 Bedroom
$1,753
per month
The median household income in Forest Home, NY is $59,107, which is 19.3% below the national average of $73,224. Per capita income is $45,266. The poverty rate of 6.7% is lower than the NY state average of 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.5471, where 0 represents perfect equality and 1 represents maximum inequality. The unemployment rate is 5.3%, compared to the state average of 5.0%. The labor force is 551. 66.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. About 22.9% of workers drive alone to work. The overall cost of living index is 141.0, which is 41.0% above the national average. Housing costs are above the national average at an index of 222.5. A single adult needs to earn approximately $62,052 per year to cover basic expenses.
Housing & Real Estate
Market SnapshotRedfin — April 2025
Median Sale Price
$750,000
Median List Price
N/A
Price Per Sq Ft
$372
Days on Market
10
Active Inventory
1
Months of Supply
1.0
Seller's market
Market CompetitivenessRedfin
Sold Above List
100.0%
Sale-to-List Ratio
109.5%
Seller's market
Price TrendsRedfin
Market ActivityRedfin
Homes Sold
1
Price Per Square FootRedfin
Median Sale $/SF
$372
House Price IndexFHFA
How much have housing prices increased in Forest Home, NY? According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index for the Ithaca, NY metro area, home prices have risen 115.7% over the past 20 years. The 10-year growth rate is 79.7%. Over the last 5 years, prices increased 52.0%. In the most recent 2-year period, the index rose 13.5%. The FHFA HPI tracks average price changes in repeat sales or refinancings of single-family properties with conforming mortgages. Because this is a metro-level index, it reflects the broader Ithaca, NY housing market rather than Forest Home alone.
Metro area: Ithaca, NY
Forest Home vs Similar CitiesCensus ACS / Redfin
Compared to cities with under 10,000 residents. Forest Home is highlighted.
Median Home Value
Forest Home, NY has a median home value of $496,900, making it the 3,006th highest median home value out of 27,993 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher median home value than 89% of all the cities we measured.
Median Rent
Forest Home, NY has a median rent of $1,378, making it the 4,945th highest median rent out of 22,337 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher median rent than 78% of all the cities we measured.
Median Price Per Sq Ft
Forest Home, NY has a price per square foot of $372, making it the 2,273rd highest price per square foot out of 20,748 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher price per square foot than 89% of all the cities we measured.
Rent Burden
Forest Home, NY has a rent burden of 28.0%, making it the 1,887th highest rent burden out of 21,928 cities in our database. This means that Forest Home has a higher rent burden than 91% of all the cities we measured.
Census Housing DataU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023
Median Home Value
$496,900
Median Rent
$1,378
Total Housing Units
453
Vacancy Rate
13.5%
Owner Occupied
35.5%
Renter Occupied
64.5%
Median Property Tax
$10,001
per year
Monthly Cost (w/ Mortgage)
$1,649
Housing Types
Property TaxU.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023
Median Property Tax
$10,001
per year
Effective Tax Rate
2.01%
of home value
Median Home Value
$496,900
Estimated Mean Tax
$15,044
The effective property tax rate is calculated by dividing the median annual property tax ($10,001) by the median home value ($496,900). In Forest Home, NY, this works out to an effective rate of 2.01%. This is above the national average of approximately 1.1%.
The current median sale price in Forest Home, NY is $750,000 according to Redfin data. Homes spend a median of 10 days on the market. 100.0% of homes sold above asking price. The market has 1.0 months of supply. The median price per square foot is $372. The median rent is $1,378 per month (Census ACS). About 35.5% of housing units are owner-occupied. The median year homes were built is 1974. There are 453 total housing units. Homeowners pay a median annual property tax of $10,001. The effective tax rate is 2.01%, above the national average.
Crime data is not yet available for Forest Home. The FBI UCR/NIBRS program does not cover all jurisdictions.
Natural Hazard Risk
Source: FEMA National Risk IndexRisk Score
73.9
Relatively Low
Expected Annual Loss
76.5
Score (0-100)
Social Vulnerability
30.9
Score (0-100)
Community Resilience
83.8
Score (0-100)
Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.
Disaster History & Federal Spending
Source: FEMATotal Declarations
20
Public Assistance
$37.7M
Individual Assistance
$383K
Most Common Type
Severe Storm
6 declarations
Public Assistance by Category
| Disaster | Type | Date | PA $ | IA $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 Pandemic → | Biological | Mar 2020 | $34.4M | $383K |
| Covid-19 → | Biological | Mar 2020 | — | — |
| Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm → | Snowstorm | Jul 2017 | $435K | — |
| Hurricane Sandy → | Hurricane | Oct 2012 | — | — |
| Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee → | Severe Storm | Sep 2011 | $1.4M | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Jul 2006 | $1.3M | — |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation → | Hurricane | Sep 2005 | — | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Aug 2004 | — | — |
| Power Outage → | Other | Aug 2003 | — | — |
| Fires and Explosions → | Fire | Sep 2001 | $6K | — |
| West Nile Virus → | Other | Oct 2000 | — | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Jul 2000 | $99K | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Severe Storm | Jul 1998 | — | — |
| Severe Storms High Winds, Rain and Flood… → | Severe Storm | Dec 1996 | — | — |
| Severe Storms and Flooding → | Flood | Jan 1996 | — | — |
| Severe Blizzard → | Snowstorm | Mar 1993 | — | — |
| Severe Storms & Flooding → | Flood | Jul 1976 | — | — |
| Storms, Rains, Landslides & Flooding → | Flood | Oct 1975 | — | — |
| Tropical Storm Agnes → | Flood | Jun 1972 | — | — |
| Heavy Rains & Flooding → | Flood | Jul 1970 | — | — |
Showing 20 of 21 disasters
PA = FEMA Public Assistance (infrastructure recovery). IA = Individual Assistance (homeowner/renter aid).
Flood Insurance (NFIP)
Source: FEMA NFIPTotal Claims
289
Total Claims Paid
$1,884,790
Avg Claim Payout
$6,522
County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Hazard Mitigation
Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation AssistanceMitigation Projects
15
Federal Funding
$1,519,649
Properties Protected
1
Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio
1.63
BCR
Top Mitigation Project Types
| Project Type | Projects | Federal $ |
|---|---|---|
| 90.4: Mitigation Plan - Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan | 3 | $51,000 |
| 302.1: Landslide Stabilization - Structural | 2 | $322,362 |
| 100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.) | 2 | $37,564 |
| 301.1: Shoreline Stabilization (Riprap, etc.); 405.1: Other Minor Flood Control | 1 | $307,800 |
| 404.1: Localized Flood Control System to Protect Critical Facility | 1 | $194,648 |
Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.
Forest Home has a relatively low overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are hurricane, drought, lightning. The area has had 20 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (6 declarations). 289 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $37,653,921 in public assistance recovery funding. $382,617 has been distributed in individual assistance to disaster-affected residents. 15 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.
Health
Community Health
Source: CDC PLACES
Obesity Rate
21.9%
14.2pp below the national average
Depression Rate
21.6%
1.9pp below the national average
Diabetes Rate
5.3%
6.6pp below the national average
Uninsured Rate
5.8%
4.8pp below the national average
Health Scorecard
Higher scores indicate better health outcomes relative to the national average (50 = average)
Health Outcomes
Age-adjusted prevalence rates. Green bars indicate rates below the national average; red indicates above.
High Cholesterol
21.7%
Arthritis
11.3%
Cancer (excl. skin)
2.9%
Teeth Lost (65+)
18.4%
Health Risk Behaviors
Prevention & Screening
Green bars indicate rates above the national average (more preventive care); red indicates below.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Frequent Mental Distress
18.7%
14+ days in past month
Depression
21.6%
Loneliness
40.4%
Lack of Support
29.2%
Disability Prevalence
Any Disability
22.0%
Mobility
6.2%
Cognitive
13.8%
Hearing
3.3%
Vision
3.7%
Self-Care
2.3%
Independent Living
6.9%
Health-Related Social Needs
Prevalence of social risk factors affecting community health
Forest Home has an obesity rate of 21.9%, which is 14.2pp below the national average. The depression rate is 21.6%, 1.9pp below the national average. About 5.8% of adults lack health insurance. 70.5% of residents had an annual checkup in the past year.
Nearby Hospitals
Source: CMS Hospital Compare
Nearest Hospitals
5
With Emergency Services
4
Avg CMS Rating
2.3 / 5
Nearest Hospital
2.1 mi
Cayuga Medical Center At Ithac...
| Hospital | Distance | Type | Rating | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayuga Medical Center At Ithaca | 2.1 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 3/5 | Yes |
| Guthrie Cortland Regional Medical Center | 16.9 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 3/5 | Yes |
| Schuyler Hospital | 19.1 mi | Critical Access Hospitals | — | Yes |
| Elmira Psych Center | 29.6 mi | Psychiatric | — | — |
| Arnot Ogden Medical Center | 31.6 mi | Acute Care Hospitals | 1/5 | Yes |
Infrastructure
Commute Overview2023 ACS
Drive Alone
22.9%
-71% vs national
Public Transit
23.3%
+2489% vs national
Work From Home
19.4%
+109% vs national
Carpool
3.3%
Walk / Bike
31.1%
combined
How Forest Home's Commute ComparesCensus ACS 2023
How People Get to WorkCensus ACS 2023
Commute Mode BreakdownCensus ACS 2023
Commute data for Forest Home, NY covers travel times and transportation modes. 22.9% of workers drive alone, compared to the national average of 78.7%. 19.4% work from home, which is above the NY state average of 11.1%. Public transit is used by 23.3% of commuters, compared to the national average of 0.9%. 3.3% of workers carpool. 28.0% walk to work. 3.1% commute by bicycle.
Internet & Broadband Access
Source: Census ACSBroadband Access
73.7%
of households
Cable / Fiber / DSL
61.2%
of households
No Internet
0.0%
of households
Total Households
392
Internet Subscription Types
Device Ownership
Source: Census ACSHas Computer
100.0%
of households
Smartphone
95.2%
of households
Desktop / Laptop
100.0%
of households
Tablet
81.6%
of households
Percentage of households with each device type. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2023 5-year estimates, tables B28001 & B28002).
Electricity Rates
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2024)Residential Rate
24.4¢
per kWh
+28% vs Under 10,000 avg
Commercial Rate
18.8¢
per kWh
+21% vs Under 10,000 avg
Industrial Rate
9.2¢
per kWh
-23% vs Under 10,000 avg
Avg Monthly Bill
$140
residential
-5% vs Under 10,000 avg
43% above the national average of 17.1¢/kWh
Residential electricity in New York averages 24.4¢ per kWh, compared to the national average of 17.1¢. The average monthly electric bill is $140. State-level averages from EIA Electric Sales & Revenue data (2024).
Forest Home vs Similar Cities
Source: EIA (2024)Comparing electricity rates with randomly selected cities of similar population (Under 10,000). Each city represents its state's average rate.
Residential Rate (¢/kWh)
Commercial Rate (¢/kWh)
Industrial Rate (¢/kWh)
Average Monthly Bill
73.7% of households in Forest Home have broadband internet access. 61.2% have cable, fiber, or DSL service. 12.5% rely solely on cellular data without a wired connection. 0.0% of households have no internet access.
Politics & Government
County-level data: Election results are reported at the county level. Forest Home is located in Tompkins County, NY. Results reflect all voters in the county, not just those in Forest Home.
Election Overview
Source: Tompkins County (2024)2024 Winner
Democrat
Dem Votes
34,631
75.3%
GOP Votes
11,354
24.7%
Total Votes
45,985
Margin
D+50.6%
Shift from 2020
D+1.4pp
vs prior election
Election History
Source: County-Level Election Results| Year | Dem Votes | GOP Votes | Total | Dem % | GOP % | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34,631 | 11,354 | 45,985 | 75.3% | 24.7% | D+50.6 |
| 2020 | 33,619 | 11,096 | 45,735 | 73.5% | 24.3% | D+49.2 |
| 2016 | 25,555 | 9,647 | 37,747 | 67.7% | 25.6% | D+42.1 |
In the 2024 presidential election, Tompkins County recorded 45,985 total votes. Democrats won the county with 75.3% of the vote compared to 24.7% for Republicans, a margin of D+50.6%. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted D+1.4pp from the previous election. Since 2016, Tompkins County has shifted 8.5 percentage points toward Democrats.
ZIP Code Overview
Source: Census ACSZIP Codes
8
Total Population
82,809
Avg Median Income
-$249,951,386
Avg Home Value
-$249,852,262
ZIP Code Details
Source: Census ACS| ZIP Code | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Median Rent | Area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13062 | 241 | N/A | $252,800 | N/A | 0.7 |
| 13068 | 4,464 | $79,521 | $207,900 | $1,011 | 50.6 |
| 13073 | 6,246 | $71,316 | $167,900 | $983 | 55.1 |
| 14817 | 2,811 | $86,063 | $218,500 | $1,429 | 40.8 |
| 14850 | 66,495 | $69,689 | $334,800 | $1,446 | 124.8 |
| 14853 | 2,294 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.4 |
| 14854 | 99 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0.4 |
| 14881 | 159 | $82,321 | N/A | $936 | 1.5 |
Forest Home, NY has 8 ZIP codes with a combined population of 82,809. The average median household income across all ZIP codes is -$249,951,386. The average median home value is -$249,852,262. The average median monthly rent is -$249,999,274.
Similar Cities
Cities with similar population, income, housing, crime, education, and demographic profiles.