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

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

59.1% (±12.5 points) of renting households in Forest City, NC spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

49.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 59.1% (±12.5 points)
Paying 35% or more: 49.9% (±10.7 points)
Median share of income: 34.9% (±9.6 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	Rutherford County	North Carolina	United States
Less than 15%	8.6% (±5.9 points)	15.7%	14.1%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.9% (±8.0 points)	15.4%	12.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.1% (±6.8 points)	13.8%	13.2%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.3% (±7.5 points)	8.3%	11.3%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.2% (±6.5 points)	8.6%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	49.9% (±10.7 points)	38.2%	39.6%	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 Rutherford County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Forest City	Rutherford County	North Carolina	United States
Paying 30% or more	59.1% (±12.5 points)	46.8% (±6.4 points)	48.9% (±0.6 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	49.9% (±10.7 points)	38.2% (±5.5 points)	39.6% (±0.5 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.9% (±9.6 points)	28.1% (±3.4 points)	29.5% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$26,426 (±$4,937)	$34,112 (±$3,313)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$813 (±$58)	$783 (±$19)	$1,228 (±$5)	$1,413

In Forest City, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Rutherford County (46.8%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (48.9%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Rutherford County, Forest City ranks 2 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 192 of 650.

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	—	59.1% (±12.5 points)	—
Bostic	2.7 mi	46.2% (±66.3 points)	Not measurably different
Spindale	3.4 mi	29.3% (±14.7 points)	Lower
Ruth	5.3 mi	64.6% (±35.2 points)	Not measurably different
Rutherfordton	5.5 mi	53.9% (±17.7 points)	Not measurably different
Ellenboro	6.2 mi	14.3% (±12.5 points)	Lower
Mooresboro	10 mi	66.7% (±82.5 points)	Not measurably different
Lattimore	12 mi	25.0% (±103.7 points)	Not measurably different
Boiling Springs	13 mi	36.2% (±19.8 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Spindale, NC (29.3%), Ellenboro, NC (14.3%).

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 Rutherford County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ruth	64.6% (±35.2 points)
2	Forest City	59.1% (±12.5 points)
3	Rutherfordton	53.9% (±17.7 points)
4	Bostic	46.2% (±66.3 points)
5	Lake Lure	43.6% (±39.7 points)
6	Chimney Rock Village	32.3% (±75.8 points)
7	Spindale	29.3% (±14.7 points)
8	Ellenboro	14.3% (±12.5 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?

59.1% 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, NC spends 34.9% (±9.6 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 town, North Carolina (place:24080, in state:37).

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.