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Living in
River Forest.
About
Life in River Forest
River Forest is a community of 11,489 people in Illinois. The median household income is $146,786, median rent runs about $1,554 per month, and median home values are around $687,300. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
River Forest at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Foreign-Born
12.5%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
-7.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.5% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in River Forest: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In River Forest, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (21.3%), and 3.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
18.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.5%
of households
Married Couples
55.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 22% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in River Forest
In River Forest, rent runs 22% above the IL average, and home values are 161% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
77.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
12.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
87.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1946
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $722,857 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in River Forest and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cook County, which includes River Forest, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
River Forest: Cook County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cook County (county-wide) · Annual averages
River Forest is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What River Forest Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute32.5 min avg
How River Forest residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In River Forest, most residents drive alone to work (42%), and 45% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in River Forest runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
101.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,588.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
River Forest Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 55 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cook County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cook County, which includes River Forest, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 55 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | Flood | $494.9M |
| 2024 | 57 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550.0M |
| 2022 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2021 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cook County, county-wide
River Forest is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cook County, which includes River Forest, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
149
per year
Moderate Days
191
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Cook County, county-wide
River Forest is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 22°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
River Forest has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 22°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/41°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/22°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.6"
Annual Snowfall
38.4"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
121
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 19°F | 1.99" |
| Feb | 36°F | 22°F | 1.97" |
| Mar | 47°F | 31°F | 2.45" |
| Apr | 59°F | 40°F | 3.75" |
| May | 71°F | 51°F | 4.49" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 85°F | 66°F | 3.71" |
| Aug | 83°F | 65°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 63°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.42" |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in River Forest
Uninsured
2.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside River Forest's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Rush Oak Park Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.4 mi away · Oak Park
Loyola Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.5 mi away · Melrose Park
Shriners Hospital for Children
Childrens · 2 mi away · Chicago
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in River Forest
River Forest's student/teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 72.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
72.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in River Forest
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,561 students · in-state tuition $40,608 · 64% graduate · median earnings $66,693 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,323 students · in-state tuition $38,798 · 59% graduate · median earnings $56,714 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
8.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,114 students · in-state tuition $4,680 · 26% graduate · median earnings $51,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Illinois
11.9 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 14,027 students · in-state tuition $22,243 · 75% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,737 students · in-state tuition $56,060 · 72% graduate · median earnings $78,431 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 9,201 students · in-state tuition $70,589 · 97% graduate · median earnings $104,255 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for River Forest
River Forest has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
18 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
41 mi awayPublic Libraries in River Forest
River Forest Public Library
735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest
Cities Near River Forest
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to River Forest?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
River Forest FAQ
Is River Forest, Illinois affordable?⌄
River Forest's median rent is $1,554/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $146,786/year. Median home value is $687,300.
Is River Forest, Illinois safe?⌄
River Forest's violent crime rate was 101 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1589 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in River Forest, Illinois?⌄
Cook County, which includes River Forest, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in River Forest, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in River Forest is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,554/month and median household income is $146,786/year. The median home value is $687,300. About 77% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in River Forest, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in River Forest is 33 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from