3 census tracts · pop 7,605 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 4.1/10
· range 3–5.4
River Forest takes in 3 census tracts of Lansing, MI and houses 7,605 people. Scored across those inputs it reaches 4.1/10, placing it in the Moderate tier. Scores across the 3 constituent tracts range from 3 to 5.4. A 2.4-point internal spread means block-level underwriting beats area-level here.
20% are severely burdened, paying half their income or more in rent. That cohort has no absorption capacity for an unexpected bill, and it is where non-payment filings originate. Against a Lansing baseline of 30.1%, 33% of renters here cross the 30%-of-income line.
Average gross rent is $932, 6% below the Lansing average of $993. That places it #27 of 30 neighborhoods in Lansing. At 27% renter-occupied, this is predominantly owner territory, and rental comps have to be drawn from further out.
The closest comparables inside the same city are Old Everett and Sycamore Park. Rent takes 18% of average household income, comfortably inside the 30% line and unusually low for a rental sub-market.
For a specific building, read the per-tract breakdown below rather than the 4.1 headline, because the internal range is too wide to average safely. Scores move when the ACS release, the court-record feed, or the statute ledger behind them moves.
Risk score
4.1
Moderate
3 tracts · population-weighted
River Forest vs LansingHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority59%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport34%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in River Forest
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
13.7%Housing insecurity
10.3%Utility shutoff threat
17.0%Food insecurity
16.6%SNAP enrollment
7.6%No health insurance
31.8%Any disability
Frequently asked
About River Forest
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for River Forest?
River Forest scores 4.1/10 (Moderate tier) across 3 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does River Forest compare to Lansing overall?
River Forest scores 0.1 points higher than Lansing overall (4/10). Renters spend 33% of income on rent vs 30% citywide. Average rent: $932 vs $993.
Q3
What is the average rent in River Forest?
Average gross rent in River Forest is $932/month (pop-weighted across 3 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 33% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of River Forest residents are renters?
27% of River Forest households are renter-occupied (vs 46% in Lansing). The neighborhood has 7,605 residents.
Q5
Is River Forest a high social-vulnerability area?
River Forest sits in the 45th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (less vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
Which tracts in River Forest have the highest eviction risk?
The highest-risk constituent tract in River Forest is census tract 26065003301 (score 5.4/10). Across the 3 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 3 to 5.4, a spread of 2.4 points.
Q7
How safe is River Forest for landlords?
River Forest carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (4.1/10). Pop-weighted across 3 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Lansing as a whole (4/10), this neighborhood is in line with the citywide level.
Q8
What is the demographic breakdown of River Forest?
River Forest has 7,432 residents. Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (56.2%), Black (non-Hispanic) (26.1%), Hispanic / Latino (8.1%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
