Forest, VA Demographics

A map of Forest's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	10,234	9,553	76.2%	81.6%
Black	1,697	786	12.6%	6.7%
Multiracial	625	457	4.7%	3.9%
Hispanic	397	474	3.0%	4.0%
Asian	244	393	1.8%	3.4%
Native American/Other	233	46	1.7%	0.4%

Forest, Virginia has an estimated population of 13,430, a large increase from the 11,709 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 76.2% White, 12.6% Black, 4.7% Multiracial, 3.0% Hispanic, 1.8% Asian, and 1.7% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Forest, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Forest has become considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Forest, that probability was 32.6% in 2020 and 40.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Forest is ranked the 102nd most populous place in Virginia, out of 688 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Forest was ranked the 115th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Forest's White Population

10,234 residents of Forest, or 76.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Forest is significantly higher than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Forest ranks 257th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's White population has grown by an estimated 7.1%. White residents' share of Forest's population has decreased from 81.6% to 76.2%.

Forest is more White than neighboring Timberlake (72.7% White), Lynchburg (59.9% White), and Madison Heights (67.4% White). Forest is less White than neighboring Big Island (100% White), and Rustburg (89.5% White).

Forest's Black Population

1,697 residents of Forest, or 12.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Forest is lower than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Forest ranks 361st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's Black population has grown by an estimated 115.9%. Black residents' share of Forest's population has increased from 6.7% to 12.6%.

Forest is more Black than neighboring Timberlake (11.5% Black), Big Island (0% Black), and Rustburg (7% Black). Forest is less Black than neighboring Lynchburg (27% Black), and Madison Heights (23.1% Black).

Forest's Asian Population

244 residents of Forest, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Forest is lower than in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Forest ranks 163rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's Asian population has declined by an estimated 37.9%. Asian residents' share of Forest's population has decreased from 3.4% to 1.8%.

Forest is more Asian than neighboring Big Island (0% Asian), and Madison Heights (0.3% Asian). Forest is less Asian than neighboring Timberlake (2.2% Asian), Lynchburg (2.2% Asian), and Rustburg (2.3% Asian).

Forest's Hispanic Population

397 residents of Forest, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Forest is lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Forest ranks 377th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 16.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Forest's population has decreased from 4.0% to 3.0%.

Forest is more Hispanic than neighboring Big Island (0% Hispanic), Madison Heights (2.7% Hispanic), and Rustburg (0.7% Hispanic). Forest is less Hispanic than neighboring Timberlake (8.9% Hispanic), and Lynchburg (5.1% Hispanic).

Forest's Native American/Other Population

233 residents of Forest, or 1.7% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Forest is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Forest ranks 488th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 406.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Forest's population has increased from 0.4% to 1.7%.

Forest is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lynchburg (1.4% Native American/Other), Big Island (0% Native American/Other), Madison Heights (1.3% Native American/Other), and Rustburg (0.4% Native American/Other).

Forest's Multiracial Population

625 residents of Forest, or 4.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Forest is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Forest ranks 355th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 688 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Forest's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 36.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Forest's population has increased from 3.9% to 4.7%.

Forest is more Multiracial than neighboring Timberlake (3.1% Multiracial), Lynchburg (4.4% Multiracial), Big Island (0% Multiracial), and Rustburg (0.1% Multiracial). Forest is less Multiracial than neighboring Madison Heights (5.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.