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CITY

Forest Park

Illinois · 13,829 residents (2025 est.) · 2.402 sq mi
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The short version

Forest Park has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,221. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $304,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,943
−11%since 2000
from 15,688 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
5,805 / sq mi
−11%since 2000
from 6,531 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.0
+12%since 2000
from 35.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,829 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K14K15K15K16K1990201020202024Forest Park
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,221
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,103 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$54,640
+110%since 2000
from $26,045 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.5%
+22.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
+2%since 2010
from 0.449 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services9.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration6.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade3.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$304,700
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $131,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,367
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $670 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
52.8%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 44.8% in 2000
47.2% rent
Vacancy rate
7.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.5%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.5%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+32%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest Park on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.1%(8,169)
Black30.7%(4,824)
Hispanic / Latino7.8%(1,230)
Asian6.8%(1,059)
Other0%
Diversity Score75.4%(11,831)
2024
White, non-Hispanic51%(7,107)
Black24%(3,351)
Hispanic / Latino12.4%(1,735)
Asian8.8%(1,225)
Other3.8%(525)
Diversity Score82.2%(11,465)
Diversity Score
82
+9%since 2000
from 75 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.5%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 36.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 88.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.4 min
+28%since 2000
from 21.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
54.5%
−11.2 ptssince 2009
from 65.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
5.6%
−11.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
24.2%
+20.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 10.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 74.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.8%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
54.0%
−14.2 ptssince 2009
from 68.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 47.4% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.6% in 2009
Foreign born
12.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.7%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
+5.2 ptssince 2012
from 9.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.4%
−79.5 ptssince 2013
from 86.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.8%
+14.8 ptssince 2017
from 78.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
80.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2016
from 81.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2016
from 5.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Forest Park to nearby cities

FOREST PARK VS
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Income$68,815−11%
Home value$229,800−25%
Population23,330+69%
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FOREST PARK VS
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Income$146,786+90%
Home value$687,300+126%
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FOREST PARK VS
Oak Park
Income$110,820+44%
Home value$465,500+53%
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FOREST PARK VS
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Income$78,408+2%
Home value$299,800−2%
Population55,001+298%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest Park, Illinois?

Forest Park, Illinois has about 13,943 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest Park, Illinois?

The typical household in Forest Park, Illinois earns about $77,221 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest Park, Illinois expensive?

In Forest Park, Illinois, the median home is worth about $304,700, and the typical rent is about $1,367 a month.

How educated are people in Forest Park, Illinois?

About 51.5% of adults age 25 and over in Forest Park, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest Park, Illinois?

About 11.6% of people in Forest Park, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest Park, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest Park, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 975 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →