| Index | Forest Park | Ohio | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 80 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Forest Park? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Forest Park stands at 91, making it 9% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Forest Park aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Forest Park residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
Is Forest Park affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Forest Park, for instance, where the median home price falls 31.1% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 4.6% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Forest Park flaunting a median household income of $86,595, 6.5% higher than the national norm.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Forest Park, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 5.75%, and income tax rates start at 2.76%.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Forest Park, the healthcare costs are 4.4% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.
The Forest Park cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $106,439 | $8,870 | $2,483 | $3,193 |
| Renters | $57,690 | $4,808 | $1,346 | $1,731 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Ohio | 5.75% | 8% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Ohio | 2.76% | 3.99% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Plainville, OH | 159 | 97 | 3.4% |
| Shawnee, OH | 1,081 | 95 | 4.8% |
| Elizabethtown, OH | 295 | 75 | 24.9% |
| Hooven, OH | 336 | 77 | 22.7% |
| Shawnee village, OH | 563 | 78 | 21.8% |
| Forest Park, OH | 19,147 | 91 | 8.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Augusta, ME | 19,148 | 96 | 3.8% |
| Twinsburg, OH | 19,149 | 103 | 3.4% |
| Chowchilla, CA | 19,143 | 114 | 14.4% |
| Berea, OH | 19,143 | 92 | 8.2% |
| Merrifield, VA | 19,142 | 154 | 54.3% |
| Forest Park, OH | 19,147 | 91 | 8.9% |
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