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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Oak Forest

Illinois · 28,051 residents · 6.03 sq mi
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The short version

Oak Forest is home to 28,051 people in Illinois. 82% of homes are owner-occupied. That is roughly 29% ahead of the Illinois median. Poverty is uncommon here, at 3.6% of residents. The median household earns $60,073, about 41% above the national median. Getting to work takes 25 minutes on average.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Mid-age
median age 35.6
US median: 35.2
Average education
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

28,051
+7%since 1990
from 26,203 in 1990
1990 – 2025
35.6
+13%since 1990
from 31.5 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
6.03 sq mi
Population, 19902024
26K27K27K28K28K19902000201020202024Oak Forest
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.7%(1,889)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.2%(2,030)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.6%(2,123)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.1%(2,000)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.5%(1,815)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.8%(3,868)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4417.2%(4,825)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5415.1%(4,233)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.6%(2,691)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.2%(1,452)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.2%(909)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.8%(216)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$60,073
+5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $43,387 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$23,487
+49%since 1990
from $15,745 in 1990
US average: $21,522
3.6%
+0.6 ptssince 1990
from 3.0% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$145,900
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $103,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$667
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $544 in 1990
US average: $602
81.7%
+3.7 ptssince 1990
from 78.0% in 1990
18.3% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic97.2%(25,480)
Black0.4%(99)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(720)
Asian1.6%(417)
2000
White, non-Hispanic86.6%(24,297)
Black3.6%(1,006)
Hispanic / Latino5.9%(1,645)
Asian2.6%(736)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican15.8%(4,246)
Puerto Rican1.7%(456)
Argentine0.3%(86)
Peruvian0.1%(24)
Ecuadorian0.1%(17)
Nicaraguan0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2.8%(757)
Filipino1.6%(440)
Chinese0.5%(141)
Korean0.3%(87)
Vietnamese0.1%(24)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Irish19.3%(5,171)
German17.6%(4,730)
Polish12.6%(3,366)
Italian8.9%(2,386)
English4.3%(1,158)
American2.5%(671)
Arab2.1%(554)
Lithuanian1.9%(518)
Dutch1.6%(420)
Palestinian1.4%(364)
Czech1.3%(350)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
French0.8%(213)
Scottish0.8%(206)
Swiss0.7%(190)
Croatian0.7%(178)
Norwegian0.6%(165)
Greek0.6%(152)
Swedish0.6%(149)
Nigerian0.5%(130)
Slovak0.4%(117)
Jordanian0.4%(114)
Danish0.4%(108)
Austrian0.4%(106)
Welsh0.3%(78)
Canadian0.3%(70)
Hungarian0.2%(63)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(60)
Belgian0.2%(47)
Finnish0.1%(33)
Russian0.1%(27)
West Indian0.1%(19)
Jamaican0.1%(19)
Romanian0.1%(15)
Ukrainian0%(13)
Slovene0%(12)
Section 05

Education

22.5%
+4.7 ptssince 1990
from 17.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.3%
+2.1 ptssince 1990
from 87.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
6.8%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 6.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

24.6 min
−11%since 1990
from 27.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.5%(3,185)
Married60.7%(6,539)
Widowed2.4%(262)
Divorced7.4%(794)
Women 15+
Never married24%(2,671)
Married59.4%(6,620)
Widowed8.7%(971)
Divorced7.9%(878)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.5%
−3.7 ptssince 2013
from 11.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
64.3%
−4.0 ptssince 2020
from 68.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
12.9%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 12.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
17.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 17.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
15.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 0.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2020
from 77.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
31.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 28.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.6%(229)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)32.9%(320)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29%(282)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.5%(44)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 972 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Oak Forest, Illinois?

Oak Forest, Illinois has about 28,051 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Oak Forest, Illinois earns about $60,073 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Oak Forest, Illinois expensive?

In Oak Forest, Illinois, the median home is worth about $145,900, and the typical rent is about $667 a month.

How educated are people in Oak Forest, Illinois?

About 22.5% of adults age 25 and over in Oak Forest, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Oak Forest, Illinois?

About 3.6% of people in Oak Forest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Oak Forest, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Oak Forest, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,848 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 →