What it's like to live in River Forest
River Forest is a small city in Illinois with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. River Forest deals with home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How River Forest compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to River Forest
Based on River Forest's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,108
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $62,160 a year
- 77% of River Forest renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$137,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $68,730
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,554/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,554 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $687,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $687,300 · 77% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.8% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cook County is 4.8%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cook County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 69% below US
101 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1589/100k · River Forest Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 25% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.5 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% take public transit; 27% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 82°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 103% above US
73% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Pullman National Historical Park (18 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
River Forest's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,554/mo) equals 13% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (27% of workers here already work from home), and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near River Forest
All Illinois guides →Moving to Oak Park →
2 mi away · pop. 53,292
Rent $1,593/mo · Income $110,820
Compare with River Forest →Moving to Maywood →
2 mi away · pop. 23,201
Rent $1,209/mo · Income $68,815
Compare with River Forest →Moving to Forest Park →
2 mi away · pop. 13,943
Rent $1,367/mo · Income $77,221
Compare with River Forest →Moving to Elmwood Park →
2 mi away · pop. 23,868
Rent $1,334/mo · Income $91,955
Compare with River Forest →Not sure River Forest is the one?
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