Forest 68 Good
Forest Livability #58 ranked city in Mississippi#8,944 ranked city in the USARanks better than 69% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Forest

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this region is notably lower than the national average, encompassing everyday goods, housing, utilities, transportation and health care expenses.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    Achieving a high health and safety score relies on factors including great air quality and convenient access to vital health facilities such as hospitals, doctors, clinics and police stations.

  • Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

  • Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

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What's it like Living in Forest?

Forest, Mississippi is a smaller city with a population of 5,569 people. Forest is known to be an ethnically diverse city. The two most common races are White (47%) and Black or African American (43%). Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Forest are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 25% of the population also speak Spanish. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Forest, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 23 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very intimidating task. However, it could also be a fulfilling experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Forest, Mississippi. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. Finding the best places to live in Forest and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes cost of living, commute, education, employment, housing and other important metrics.

Forest has a livability score of 69/100 and is ranked #31 in Mississippi and #7,012 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Forest has higher than average grades for the following: housing (A+). The bad news for Forest, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), education (F) and employment (D).

Achieving a cost-effective lifestyle can be pivotal in managing your monthly expenditures, especially given the ongoing upward trajectory of everday goods and housing prices. In Forest, residents are fortunate to experience a cost of living that is 23.6% below the national average. This advantageous positioning extends its impact to a wide spectrum of expenses, encompassing not only goods and services but also transportation and health care costs. As a result, this area stands out as a place where your money stretches further, ensuring that you can maintain a more economical and sustainable lifestyle. This affordability becomes increasingly valuable in an era marked by soaring costs, making Forest an attractive choice for those seeking financial prudence without compromising on quality of life.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Forest can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Assuming that Forest meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Forest. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Forest are simply unattainable. The median home price for Forest homes is $98,500, which is 6.8% lower than the Mississippi average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Forest, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 11.5% lower than the Mississippi average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Forest

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Forest?

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Compare Forest, MS Livability

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      Forest transportation information

      Statistic Forest Mississippi National
      Average one way commute23min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work61.6%84.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool26.6%9.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit4.4%0.4%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk7.4%1.5%2.8%
      Working from home0.0%2.2%4.6%
      Source: The Forest, MS data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).