How many renters in Forest City, IA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Forest City, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

33.8% (±15.9 points) of renting households in Forest City, IA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

30.0% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 20.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 33.8% (±15.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 30.0% (±15.2 points)
Median share of income: 20.0% (±14.6 points)

Rent as a share of income in Forest City

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Forest City	Winnebago County	Iowa	United States
Less than 15%	40.1% (±19.3 points)	29.8%	17.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	9.9% (±7.3 points)	15.1%	14.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	1.6% (±2.6 points)	6.2%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	14.5% (±11.6 points)	12.7%	11.6%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	3.8% (±4.8 points)	5.8%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	30.0% (±15.2 points)	30.3%	35.2%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Forest City against Winnebago County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Forest City	Winnebago County	Iowa	United States
Paying 30% or more	33.8% (±15.9 points)	36.1% (±11.1 points)	43.9% (±0.8 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	30.0% (±15.2 points)	30.3% (±10.5 points)	35.2% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	20.0% (±14.6 points)	24.0% (±7.1 points)	27.4% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$33,508 (±$23,464)	$35,100 (±$13,658)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$720 (±$23)	$717 (±$24)	$972 (±$6)	$1,413

In Forest City, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Winnebago County (36.1%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (43.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Winnebago County, Forest City ranks 6 of 7 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 461 of 895.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Forest City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Forest City
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Forest City	—	33.8% (±15.9 points)	—
Leland	5.3 mi	47.1% (±44.4 points)	Not measurably different
Crystal Lake	8.2 mi	81.8% (±84.8 points)	Not measurably different
Thompson	10 mi	50.1% (±36.3 points)	Not measurably different
Fertile	11 mi	0.0% (±91.9 points)	Not measurably different
Garner	11 mi	50.0% (±22.9 points)	Not measurably different
Joice	12 mi	13.6% (±59.9 points)	Not measurably different
Lake Mills	12 mi	37.5% (±17.8 points)	Not measurably different
Ventura	12 mi	29.6% (±42.2 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Winnebago County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Buffalo Center	65.6% (±39.9 points)
2	Thompson	50.1% (±36.3 points)
3	Rake	50.0% (±111.8 points)
4	Leland	47.1% (±44.4 points)
5	Lake Mills	37.5% (±17.8 points)
6	Forest City	33.8% (±15.9 points)
7	Scarville	0.0% (±141.4 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Forest City

Are renters in Forest City rent-burdened?

33.8% of renting households in Forest City pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Forest City spend on rent?

The median renting household in Forest City, IA spends 20.0% (±14.6 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Forest City city, Iowa (place:28380, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.