What is the cost of living in Forest, VA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forest has an overall cost of living index of 108, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Virginia, Forest has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Virginia's index of 112.
The standard of living in Forest ranks as #49 most affordable out of the 188 places we measured in Virginia. By definition, that implies Forest ranks as the #139 most expensive place in the Old Dominion.
For more reading on life in Forest, check out:
Forest Cost Of Living Vs. Virginia
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forest. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forest is 100.
The Groceries index in Forest is 105.
The Health index in Forest is 121.
The Housing index in Forest is 103.
The Transportation index in Forest is 106.
The Utilities index in Forest is 105.
| Living Expense | Forest | Virginia | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Health | 121 | 131 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 105 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 105 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 104 | 100 |
Forest Cost Of Living Compared To Virginia Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Virginia, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Forest Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forest, VA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Virginia, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Forest is $412,435.
The Median Rent in Forest is $1,315.
The Median Income in Forest is $81,552.
The Home Value To Income in Forest is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forest is 0.19x.
Forest, VA Costs By Category
Detailed Forest Services costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Forest Groceries costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Forest Health costs vs. Virginia
Detailed Forest Transportation costs vs. Virginia
Forest SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forest
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forest. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Scranton, PA has a cost of living index of 89, 0.8x Forest.
Dickson, TN has a cost of living index of 95, 0.9x Forest.
Dunmore, PA has a cost of living index of 98, 0.9x Forest.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 76,033 | 89 | 0.8x |
| Dickson, TN | 16,424 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Dunmore, PA | 14,181 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Carbondale, PA | 8,789 | 90 | 0.8x |
| Archbald, PA | 7,404 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Blakely, PA | 6,662 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Olyphant, PA | 5,381 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Clarks Summit, PA | 5,073 | 100 | 0.9x |
