Forest City: Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Forest City center on a median $69,205 (about the same as Winnebago County median $67,642; 1.1× below Iowa median $75,059), with homes at a median value of $143,500. The surrounding county supports 5,982 jobs (avg $59,900).
- $77,191 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Iowa $84,771).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $69,205 — near the Iowa median ($66,270). Poverty rate 12.4% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 30% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 2.1× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 12.5% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 30.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 12.4% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.3% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $4,960 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $382,868 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $77,191 (vs Iowa $84,771) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $71,695 |
| Median Household Income | $69,205 (vs Iowa $66,270) |
| Poverty Rate | 12.4% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $69,205 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 1.8% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 6% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 6.0% |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Primary Mode | drove alone |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 5,982 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $358,349,815 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $59,900 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 1,544,760 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% (vs Iowa 2.6%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 860 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 19,511 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 22.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Crop Totals, Grain, Animal Totals, Corn, Hogs |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 318 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 3,873 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 195,395 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 5 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 6 |
| Local Businesses · Funeral Homes | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 6 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 3 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (2)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (5)
| Nearest Snap · Name | Dollar General 2398 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 6 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | FOREST CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERECE INC |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $83,338,462 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,720.10 (vs Iowa $7,013) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 10,795 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 75.1% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 8.5% |
| Pct Walked | 6.0% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 34.4 years (vs Iowa 37.3y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 32.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | strong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12