Cost to Own
United States › Florida › Seminole County › Forest City Population 14,871 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-22
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $976 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Seminole County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Forest City, Florida

A $365,000 home here costs

$2,982

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $128,000 a year.

P&I 67%Tax 7%Insurance 7%Utilities 8%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,006. The real number is $976 higher every month, 49% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Seminole County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Forest City median: $364,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
FL average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $292,000 borrowed $2,006
Property tax0.715% effective rate for Forest City itself $217
Homeowners insuranceFlorida averages $2,437/yr (NAIC), or 0.725% of home value $221
Electricity15.03ยข/kWh, Florida residential average, EIA $166
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $304
Total monthly $2,982

Forest City against Seminole County and Florida

MeasureForest CitySeminole County
Median home value$364,900$357,300
Median property tax$2,610$2,493
Effective tax rate0.715%0.698%
Median gross rent$1,706$1,686
Population14,871474,912

The weather behind that power bill

Forest City sits in Seminole County, which averages a high of 92.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 49.6°F in its coldest, with 49.63" of precipitation a year and 45% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,554 cooling and 557 heating degree days, which is what sets the $166 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Seminole County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Seminole County

Full Seminole County cost breakdown · Every county in Florida

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Forest City averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Forest City every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Forest City I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Forest City?

A $365,000 home in Forest City, Florida costs approximately $2,982 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $2,006 principal and interest, $217 property tax, $221 homeowners insurance, $234 utilities and $304 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Forest City?

Forest City has an effective property tax rate of 0.715%, based on a median home value of $364,900 and median real estate taxes of $2,610. That is higher than the Seminole County average of 0.698%.

What is the average home price in Forest City?

The median owner-occupied home value in Forest City, Florida is $364,900, against $357,300 across Seminole County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forest City?

Median gross rent in Forest City is $1,706 a month, against $2,982 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Forest City?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Forest City, Florida at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $128,000 a year. That covers the full $2,982 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Forest City, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Florida.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology