C

Forestville, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 55/100

Population: 5,418 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Forestville, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 5,418 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (55/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $109,531, median home value of $739,600, median rent of $1,937 per month, and 40.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $2,827 per month (studio $1,949, 1BR $2,155, 3BR $3,887, 4BR $4,147). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,647 per year, consuming 12% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Forestville, CA include income. Pressure points are housing. Unemployment currently reads 5.7% and poverty 5.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income A-
$109,531
Median household income
Education B
40.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
6.8x
Home value $739,600 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent D
$2,827/mo
2BR fair market rent (31% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$12,647/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$109,531
▲ 77% vs national
Per Capita Income
$55,743
Unemployment Rate
5.7%
Poverty Rate
5.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$739,600
▲ 169% vs national
Median Rent
$1,937/mo
Owner Occupied
68.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$2,827/mo
▲ 136% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,949
1BR
$2,155
2BR
$2,827
3BR
$3,887
4BR
$4,147

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
40.7%
▲ 11 ppt vs national
High School+
61.2%
Median Age
42.0
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,647/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,410/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,610/yr
School-Age (Center)
$11,056/yr

What This Means

Forestville, CA receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 5,418. This area performs well in income. Challenges include housing. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Forestville, CA affordable?
Forestville, CA receives an overall affordability grade of C (55/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $109,531. Median home value is $739,600.
What is the cost of living in Forestville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,937/mo. 2BR fair market rent $2,827/mo. Infant childcare $12,647/yr. Median home value $739,600.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →