1st Advantage MortgageIn Forest County, Pennsylvania, the typical household earns $52,191 a year and the typical rent is $817. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Forest County at a glance
- Forest County housing compared with Pennsylvania
- Paychecks and income spread in Forest County
- The Forest County job picture
- Towns and communities in Forest County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Budget math at the Forest County median
- Forest County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Forest County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
- Steps before you apply in Forest County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Forest County at a glance
Forest County is home to about 6,715 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 65th most populous of 67 county-level areas in Pennsylvania. Spread over 427 square miles, that works out to roughly 15.7 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 2 Census places inside Forest County, Marienville leads by population with about 3,163; 1 of the 2 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Forest County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Forest County housing compared with Pennsylvania
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $817 in Forest County versus $1,209 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. With a median value of $115,300, a typical Forest County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%.
| Cost | Forest County | Pennsylvania figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $817/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $115,300 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.1% | 3.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 72% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Paychecks and income spread in Forest County
The median household income in Forest County is $52,191; statewide it is $77,971, so Forest County runs 33% below Pennsylvania as a whole. In the state ranking that is 66th of 67.
| Households earning | Forest County | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.8% | +9.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.4% | +11.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.1% | -10.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.7% | -10.2 pts |
About 32% of households earn under $35,000, while 18% clear $100,000. Census counts 11.9% of Forest County residents in poverty, against 11.7% across Pennsylvania. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.404 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Forest County job picture
By the Census industry count, 17% of employed Forest County residents work in public administration and 16% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 17% locally and 4% for Pennsylvania. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Forest County share | +/- vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Public administration | 16.8% | +12.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.1% | -10.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.3% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.8% | +4.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Forest County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Forest County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 3,486 people, so roughly 48% of residents live outside any named place. No Forest County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marienville | CDP | 3,163 | $52,029 | $820 | 7 mi |
| Tionesta | borough | 323 | $54,531 | $665 | 10 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Warren County is closest, 22 miles from center to center; the sixth, McKean County, is 41 miles off. Income ranges from $58,686 in Jefferson County to $66,380 in Elk County; all six of these neighbors top Forest County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest County | - | $52,191 | $817/mo | 78% |
| Warren County, PA | 22 mi | $60,480 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Clarion County, PA | 24 mi | $62,649 | $798/mo | 72% |
| Venango County, PA | 28 mi | $61,522 | $795/mo | 75% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 29 mi | $58,686 | $750/mo | 75% |
| Elk County, PA | 31 mi | $66,380 | $719/mo | 80% |
| McKean County, PA | 41 mi | $62,905 | $809/mo | 78% |
Budget math at the Forest County median
How much room does a median Forest County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $52,191 a year is $4,349 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $817, which is 19% of it
- $923: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Two-income households and single earners in Forest County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Forest County residents: age, schooling, coverage
12% of Forest County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Forest County | Pennsylvania | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.7 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.3% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.8% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.7% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Forest County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
What the numbers mean for Forest County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Forest County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 14% of Forest County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 49, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checking a lender's license in Pennsylvania
Before sharing details with a lender, a Forest County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Forest County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Forest County:
- Price the Forest County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forest County a high-income county?
Its $52,191 median ranks 66th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Forest County?
$817 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Which towns does the Forest County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Marienville, Tionesta.
Will a Forest County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Pennsylvania as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Forest County residents?
The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities licenses consumer lenders in Pennsylvania; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.