Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:13 am – 8:45 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 47 min7:32 am – 5:18 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People20,930 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 40.18,271 householdsMedian household income $42,276Median home value $175,400Median rent $783 a month64% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $975 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting6.0% unemployment rate61% of adults are in the labour force, 9,408 employedMain industries: education and health care 22%, manufacturing 16%, professional and business services 12%Average commute 24 minutes82% drive alone, 9% car-pool, 1% walk or cycle, 6% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher85% finished high school, 7% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 93%, Spanish 6%3% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 89°F, lows 67°FColdest month January: highs 52°F, lows 27°F52 in of rain a year, on about 80 dayswettest month June5 in of snow a year, on about 2 days45 days above 90°F, 99 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Forest City 8 W station, 7 mi away; snow from Forest City 6 Sw
Nearby landmarksIsothermal Community Collegecollege · 2.9 miFraternal Order of Eagles Lakelake · 2.9 miIsothermal Community College Lakelake · 3.0 miRutherfordton Learning Centercollege · 6.3 miPiney Mountainpeak · 6.3 miGreen Riverriver · 6.7 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsSummey Parkpark · 2.2 mi · 62 acresTown of Forest City - James F. Crowe Parkrecreation area · 2.5 mi · 74 acresCowpens National Battlefieldhistoric site · 12.3 mi · 800 acresLake Thickettystate recreation area · 16.7 mi · 80 acresBobs Creek State Natural Areastate park · 19.5 mi · 3,706 acresSouth Mountains State Parkstate park · 19.9 mi · 21,329 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes5 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.5 on 5 May 198131 mi away, near Barker Heights, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 4 Aug 200717 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowRutherford County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsStrong wind Relatively HighIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality55% of days had good air in 2025201 of 365 days measured164 moderate daysMedian index 48, worst day 93main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Spartanburg County, SC, 27 mi away
Internet at home85% of households have a broadband subscription64% have cable, fibre or DSL11% rely on a mobile data plan alone13% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Forest Cityserves 21,521 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 20214 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation940 ft287 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalRutherford Regional Medical Center6.4 miPost officeForest City Post Office1.4 miTown hallForest City Town Hall1.5 miPoliceForest City Police Department1.4 miFire stationForest City Fire Department1.4 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi3 schools1 elementary, 2 otherSchoolThe Master's Academyunder a mileElementaryForrest Hunt Elementary School1.3 miSchoolRutherford Opportunity Center1.4 miCollegeIsothermal Community College2.9 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportGreenville-Spartanburg International Airport GSP35 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT53 miInterstateI-2618 miUS highwayUS 74 Altunder a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS40 miCoachForest CitySunway Chartersunder a mileTransit3 stops within a mileRutherford County Transit (RCT)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28043 ZIP area.
