Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 12,646 residents · St. Francis County, Arkansas

Forrest City , Arkansas

In Forrest City, a typical home is worth $92,000 and typical rent is $805 a month. Compared with all of St. Francis County, typical household income is 16% lower and the share of households that own their home is 16 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $92,000

    About the same as the county

    51% below Arkansas

    • Forrest City
    • St. Francis
    • Arkansas

  • Typical rent

    $805a month

    3% above the county

    15% below Arkansas

    • Forrest City
    • St. Francis
    • Arkansas

  • Typical household income

    $35,689a year

    16% below the county

    41% below Arkansas

    • Forrest City
    • St. Francis
    • Arkansas

  • Households that own their home

    39%

    16 points below the county

    27 points below Arkansas

    • Forrest City
    • St. Francis
    • Arkansas

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$69,779
4.2% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Forrest City is in St. Francis County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of St. Francis County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Forrest City apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Forrest City has the lowest homeownership rate of the 71 cities in Arkansas with more than 5,000 people: 39%.

  2. Forrest City has the 3rd lowest typical household income of the 71 cities in Arkansas with more than 5,000 people ($35,689).

  3. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Forrest City fell 4.2%; in Arkansas, it rose 3.4%.

  4. Forrest City has the 4th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 65 cities in Arkansas with more than 5,000 people (60%).

  5. Nearby, in Trumann, the typical rent is $586: 27% less than in Forrest City ($805).

  6. Nearby, in Helena-West Helena, the typical home value is $73,200: 20% less than in Forrest City ($92,000).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Forrest City

What homes there are in Forrest City, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Forrest City, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in St. Francis County.

Year built

In Forrest City, half of the homes were built before 1978; in St. Francis County, before 1980.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Forrest City cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($944): about 72%.

With a mortgage

$1,004 a month

St. Francis County: $1,009 a month

Without a mortgage

$385 a month

St. Francis County: $414 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

St. Francis County: 48%

In Forrest City, 55% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,004 a month, about the same as in St. Francis County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in St. Francis County, the typical home value in Forrest City rose 41% since 2015–2019.

The typical rent in Forrest City rose 28% over the same time; in St. Francis County, it rose 23%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureForrest CitySt. Francis CountyArkansasUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.9%6.4%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.7%3.4%
People per household 2.532.502.462.53
Drive alone 79%82%79%69%
Carpool 13%12%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Forrest City look like those in St. Francis County: 2.53 people on average.

In Forrest City, 79% of workers drive alone to work; in St. Francis County, 82%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Forrest City?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Forrest City, worth $92,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 25% of the typical household income in Forrest City, which is $35,689 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of St. Francis County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Forrest City. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,220 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$732

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$90,334
Total interest
$129,969
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,554 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $833 a month

    Your payment · 25%

  • Tight

    $833 to $1,071 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,071 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Forrest City ($35,689 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$732
Principal & interest$612
Property tax$41
Home insurance$38
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$41

You need at least $3,220 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Forrest City and St. Francis County

Forrest City is in St. Francis County, Arkansas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Forrest City's own numbers

Typical home value
$92,000
Typical monthly rent
$805
Typical yearly household income
$35,689
Households that own their home
39%
Effective property tax rate
0.53%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of St. Francis County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$944
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+18%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of St. Francis County.

Everything about St. Francis County

Buying

Buying a home in Forrest City

A typical home in Forrest City is worth $92,000: about the same as the county and 51% below Arkansas. With the typical household income in Forrest City ($35,689 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Forrest City 2.6 years
  • St. Francis 2.1 years
  • Arkansas 3.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in St. Francis County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in St. Francis County rose 37% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of St. Francis County.

Period County Arkansas U.S.
Last year (2025) −20.7% +3.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +18% +52% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +37% +79% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Forrest City next to St. Francis County, Arkansas and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Forrest City $92,000
  • St. Francis $90,900
  • Arkansas $188,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Forrest City $805
  • St. Francis $779
  • Arkansas $947
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Forrest City $35,689
  • St. Francis $42,574
  • Arkansas $60,773
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Forrest City next to St. Francis County and Arkansas
Measure Forrest City St. Francis County Arkansas U.S.
Typical home value $92,000 $90,900 $188,000 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $805 $779 $947 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $35,689 $42,574 $60,773 $80,734
Households that own their home 39% 55% 66% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $484 $425 $1,040 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.53% 0.47% 0.55% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 60% 55% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below St. Francis County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Forrest City

For a typical $92,000 home in Forrest City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Forrest City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $732a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,220
    Cash to close
    $5,980
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $41

  • Conventional, 5% down $715a month

    Down payment
    $4,600
    Cash to close
    $7,360
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $44

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $578a month

    Down payment
    $18,400
    Cash to close
    $21,160
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $663a month

    Down payment
    $13,800
    Cash to close
    $16,560
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Forrest City and for St. Francis County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Forrest City

0.53%of the home’s value each year

$484 a year for the typical owner in Forrest City.

  • Forrest City 0.53%
  • St. Francis 0.47%
  • Arkansas 0.55%

What Arkansas publishes Homestead property tax credit (Arkansas General Assembly (Act 174 of the 2026 Fiscal Session))

Exemptions and deadlines in Arkansas

Flood risk in St. Francis County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of St. Francis County.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in St. Francis County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Forrest City

Typical rent in Forrest City is $805 a month: 3% above the county. In Forrest City, 60% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of St. Francis County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($944 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.15 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of St. Francis County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $671 $12.90 $26,840
1 bedroom $722 $13.88 $28,880
2 bedrooms $944 $18.15 $37,760
3 bedrooms $1,149 $22.10 $45,960
4 bedrooms $1,282 $24.65 $51,280

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Forrest City

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Forrest City is in ZIP code 72335.

For 2 bedrooms it is $960: $16 more than the fair market rent for St. Francis County ($944).

  • 72335 $960$1,170

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Forrest City when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Forrest City

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Forrest City. These are the largest.

  • Dawson Homes 119 Turner Cir, Forrest City 72335 194 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Forrest City · Average payment: $354 a month · Average wait: 7 months (870) 633-7929
  • Linden Heights 11 Grobmyer Cir, Forrest City 72335 165 homes, 156 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Forrest City · Average payment: $255 a month · Average wait: 9 months (870) 633-7929
  • Indian Hills Apartments 1731 Indian Hills Rd, Forrest City 72335 70 low-income homes · For families (870) 633-1373
  • Chapel Ridge of Forrest City Phase I 1085 Holiday Dr, Forrest City 72335 64 low-income homes · Studio: 15 · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 26 · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 2001 · For families
  • Delta Pointe Apartments 1421 N Division St, Forrest City 72335 58 homes, 57 low-income · Studio: 8 · 1 bd: 18 · 2 bd: 32

See all 28 buildings in St. Francis County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Forrest City

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in St. Francis County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair to help a teenage girl with her book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Forrest City

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Forrest City or St. Francis County. The ones below are statewide in Arkansas: they work in Forrest City the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Arkansas

  • ADFA Down Payment Assistance Loan Program

    Statewide in Arkansas

    Arkansas state authority second mortgage of $1,000 to $15,000 for the down payment and closing costs, over 10 years and at the same rate as the ADFA first mortgage (Move-Up or StartSmart). Offered by Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Forrest City

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Forrest City, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Southern Bancorp Community Partners

    425 Plaza, West Helena · 34 miles away

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (870) 816-1126

  • Southern Bancorp Community Partners

    326 Highway 463 N, Trumann · 48 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (870) 816-1126

  • Mississippi County, Arkansas Economic Opportunity Commission, Inc.

    1400 North Division Street, Blytheville · 81 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL).

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    870-776-1054-1032

All counseling agencies in Arkansas

Help in Spanish near Forrest City

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Forrest City

HUD’s record names them for Forrest City or St. Francis County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Forrest City Public housing (870) 633-7929
  • St. Francis County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (870) 633-2781

One other authority has an office in St. Francis County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Forrest City, with the typical home value.

Everything about St. Francis County Housing in Arkansas

Neighboring counties

If St. Francis County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Forrest City.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about Forrest City

Short answers with the numbers for Forrest City and all of St. Francis County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Forrest City?

The typical home value in Forrest City is $92,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in St. Francis County it is $90,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Forrest City?

Typical rent in Forrest City is $805 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in St. Francis County is $944.

What is the FHA loan limit in Forrest City?

Forrest City uses the FHA limit for all of St. Francis County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Forrest City?

The typical homeowner in Forrest City pays $484 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.53% of the home’s value; in St. Francis County, the rate is 0.47%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Forrest City?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in St. Francis County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).