Housing data for River Forest, IL
River Forest, IL has an estimated 11,992 residents and 4,680 homes (US Census Bureau, 2020–2024 American Community Survey).
It is a village in Cook County.
12.3% of households rent.
The median gross rent is $1,554 a month.
Its population grew measurably since 2015–2019 (+9.3%).
Figures last updated on .
- Residents
- 11,992 (±46)
- Housing units
- 4,680 (±255)
- Households that rent
- 12.3%
- Median gross rent
- $1,554
- Residents since 2015–2019
- +9.3%
What stands out in River Forest
Median home value: $687,300 (±$64,272) in River Forest, higher than in Cook County ($324,500).
Median household income: $146,786 (±$32,540) in River Forest, higher than in Cook County ($83,498).
Renters paying 30% or more of income: 88.8% (±19.5 points) in River Forest, higher than in Cook County (48.9%).
Households that rent: 12.3% (±6.9 points) in River Forest, lower than in Cook County (42.3%).
Housing in River Forest at a glance
- Median rent: $1,554 median gross rent a month
- Rent by bedrooms: $1,563 median gross rent, 2 bedrooms
- Rent burden: 88.8% of renters pay 30% or more of income
- Renters and owners: 12.3% of households rent (Small sample: wide margin of error)
- Income and affordability: $146,786 median household income
- Home values: $687,300 median home value
- Homeowner costs: $4,000 or more median monthly cost with a mortgage
- Property taxes: $10,000 or more median real estate taxes a year
- Types of homes: 30.7% of homes are in buildings of 5 or more units
- Bedrooms: 62.8% of homes have 3 or more bedrooms
- Age of homes: 88.2% of homes were built before 1980
- Vacancy rate: 9.6% rental vacancy rate
- Heating fuel: 80.7% heat with utility gas
- Commute and cars: 32.5 minutes average trip to work
- Crime reported to police: 101 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
- Growth: +9.3% residents since 2015–2019
- How long people stay: 14.9% moved in since 2020
- Crowding and facilities: 0.0% of homes have more than 1 person per room
- Fair Market Rent: $2,010 Small Area FMR, 2 bedrooms (ZIP 60305)
River Forest against Cook County, its state and the nation
| River Forest | Cook County | Illinois | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 11,992 (±46) | 5,182,090 (exact) | 12,694,798 (exact) | 334,922,499 |
| Housing units | 4,680 (±255) | 2,276,493 (±389) | 5,457,452 (±471) | 143,775,355 |
| Households that rent | 12.3% (±6.9 points) | 42.3% (±0.3 points) | 32.9% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Median gross rent | $1,554 (±$269) | $1,435 (±$7) | $1,274 (±$5) | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $146,786 (±$32,540) | $83,498 (±$630) | $83,390 (±$362) | $80,734 |
| Median home value | $687,300 (±$64,272) | $324,500 (±$1,460) | $263,300 (±$797) | $332,700 |
| Median real estate taxes (a year) | $10,000 or more | $6,191 (±$30) | $5,298 (±$22) | $3,119 |
| Built before 1980 | 88.2% (±9.5 points) | 73.3% (±0.4 points) | 63.4% (±0.2 points) | 49.7% |
| Average commute | 32.5 minutes (±3.3) | 31.5 minutes (±0.2) | 27.8 minutes (±0.1) | 26.4 minutes |
| Households with broadband | 95.9% (±3.3 points) | 90.6% (±0.2 points) | 90.8% (±0.1 points) | 91.0% |
| Median age of residents | 40.0 years (±3.0) | 38.0 years (±0.1) | 39.0 years (±0.1) | 38.9 years |
River Forest covers 2.5 square miles of land, about 4,835 residents per square mile (Census Bureau Gazetteer).
How River Forest has changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10,970 (±26) | 11,992 (±46) | +9.3% | Measurable increase |
| Housing units | 4,266 (±219) | 4,680 (±255) | +9.7% | Measurable increase |
| Median gross rent | $1,143 (±$99) | $1,554 (±$269) | +36.0% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median home value | $596,900 (±$33,038) | $687,300 (±$64,272) | +15.1% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Median household income | $129,928 (±$13,796) | $146,786 (±$32,540) | +13.0% | No measurable change after inflation |
| Households that rent | 11.2% (±3.2 points) | 12.3% (±6.9 points) | +1.1 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
| Rental vacancy rate | 13.4% (±14.6 points) | 9.6% (±8.4 points) | −3.8 percentage points | Not a measurable change |
The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.
Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.
The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.
Crime reported to police in River Forest
In 2025, the River Forest Police Department reported 101 violent and 1,589 property crimes per 100,000 residents to the FBI.
Across Cook County, the departments that report recorded 294 violent and 2,162 property crimes per 100,000 residents that year.
ZIP codes in River Forest
| ZIP code | Share of the ZIP’s land in this place | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60305 | 100% | 11,992 | $1,554 | $687,300 | $146,786 |
A ZIP code is a mail route rather than a boundary, so the Census Bureau publishes figures for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas built from census blocks; the share column says how much of each one’s land lies in this place.
Places near River Forest
| Place | Distance | Median gross rent | Median home value | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Forest Township | 0.0 mi | $1,554 | $687,300 | 12.3% |
| Oak Park | 1.6 mi | $1,593 | $465,500 | 40.0% |
| Oak Park Township | 1.6 mi | $1,593 | $465,500 | 40.0% |
| Maywood | 1.7 mi | $1,209 | $229,800 | 40.0% |
| Forest Park | 1.8 mi | $1,367 | $304,700 | 47.2% |
| Elmwood Park | 1.9 mi | $1,334 | $339,300 | 34.8% |
| River Grove | 2.3 mi | $1,214 | $241,800 | 44.4% |
| Melrose Park | 2.4 mi | $1,176 | $275,800 | 43.3% |
Places in Illinois most like River Forest
| Place | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Forest Township | $1,554 | $687,300 | $146,786 | 12.3% |
| La Grange | $1,856 | $594,300 | $159,929 | 18.5% |
| Glen Ellyn | $1,433 | $544,000 | $140,938 | 21.7% |
| Park Ridge | $1,537 | $551,200 | $142,986 | 15.2% |
| Barrington | $1,500 | $582,500 | $147,989 | 21.6% |
| Wilmette | $1,978 | $810,600 | $190,662 | 12.1% |
Matched on rent, home value, income, the share who rent, the age of the homes, the share in apartment buildings and the commute, each measured against the spread across Illinois.
HUD Fair Market Rent for River Forest, fiscal year 2027
| Studio | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms | 4 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,678 | $1,780 | $2,011 | $2,586 | $2,954 |
HUD also publishes a Small Area Fair Market Rent for each ZIP code in the area; the Fair Market Rent page for this place lists its ZIP codes.
HUD income limits for River Forest, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $25,550 | $42,550 | $68,050 |
| 2 people | $29,200 | $48,600 | $77,800 |
| 3 people | $32,850 | $54,700 | $87,500 |
| 4 people | $36,450 | $60,750 | $97,200 |
| 5 people | $39,400 | $65,650 | $105,000 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $70,500 | $112,800 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $75,350 | $120,550 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $80,200 | $128,350 |
These are the limits HUD sets for its housing programs in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area, where HUD’s median family income for fiscal year 2026 is $121,500.
A program can use its own limits; tax-credit and local programs often do.
Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.
Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
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Questions about River Forest
What is the average rent in River Forest, IL?
The Census Bureau publishes the median rather than the average: the median gross rent in River Forest is $1,554 (±$269) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey), so half of renting households pay less and half pay more.
How much is a one-bedroom apartment in River Forest?
The median gross rent for a one-bedroom home in River Forest, IL is $1,538 (±$343) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Are renters in River Forest rent-burdened?
88.8% of renting households in River Forest pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the median household income in River Forest?
The median household income in River Forest is $146,786 (±$32,540) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average home value in River Forest, IL?
The Census Bureau publishes the median: $687,300 (±$64,272) for owner-occupied homes in River Forest (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the average mortgage payment in River Forest?
The Census Bureau publishes total owner costs rather than the mortgage alone: the median for owners with a mortgage in River Forest, IL is $4,000 or more a month, including taxes, insurance and utilities.
Is River Forest growing?
In River Forest, the number of residents went from 10,970 in 2015–2019 to 11,992 in 2020–2024 (+9.3%), a measurable increase.
What ZIP codes are in River Forest?
The ZIP code that covers River Forest is 60305.
What is the median rent in ZIP code 60305?
The median gross rent in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 60305 is $1,554 (±$269) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Demographic and Housing Estimates (DP05), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Selected Social Characteristics (DP02), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Total Population (B01003), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- Median Gross Rent (B25064), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — River Forest village, Illinois
- HUD Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, fiscal year 2027
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer: River Forest Police Department (ORI IL0169400)
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
- US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files
To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for River Forest village, Illinois (place:64304, in state:17).
Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).
The 2015–2019 figures are B01003_001E, B01003_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
DP05_0001E, DP05_0001M, DP04_0001E, DP04_0001M, DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M, DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .