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CITY

Park Forest

Illinois · 21,079 residents (2025 est.) · 4.961 sq mi
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The short version

Park Forest has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $61,072. Population has declined 10% since 2000. Median home value is $115,300. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 24%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,156
−10%since 2000
from 23,462 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,264 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 4,729 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.9
+4%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,079 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K22K23K24K25K1990201020202024Park Forest
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,072
−30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,579 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,021
+40%since 2000
from $21,493 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.6%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.6%
+11.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.410
+8%since 2010
from 0.380 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance15.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical14.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1.1%
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
$115,300
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $83,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,365
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $689 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.8%
−8.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
34.2% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.7%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 32.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.4%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
+8%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
17
RELATED:See current rent listings in Park Forest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic52.9%(12,412)
Black39%(9,144)
Hispanic / Latino5%(1,169)
Asian0.8%(188)
Other0%
Diversity Score68.1%(15,973)
2024
White, non-Hispanic19.7%(4,176)
Black67.4%(14,254)
Hispanic / Latino9.7%(2,046)
Asian0.3%(73)
Other2.9%(607)
Diversity Score62.1%(13,141)
Diversity Score
62
−9%since 2000
from 68 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 26.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 88.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.8 min
+27%since 2000
from 25.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.3%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
5.1%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.7%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 13.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.5%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 66.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.7%
−35.3 ptssince 2009
from 66.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
Female
55.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
Foreign born
7.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.6%
−40.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.0%
−76.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.3%
+18.4 ptssince 2017
from 74.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2016
from 92.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 4.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Park Forest to nearby cities

PARK FOREST VS
Richton Park
Income$64,554+6%
Home value$220,900+92%
Population12,483−41%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PARK FOREST VS
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Income$54,798−10%
Home value$161,000+40%
Population26,508+26%
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PARK FOREST VS
Matteson
Income$95,457+56%
Home value$250,600+117%
Population18,543−12%
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PARK FOREST VS
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Income$66,575+9%
Home value$156,700+36%
Population9,352−56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Park Forest, Illinois?

Park Forest, Illinois has about 21,156 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Park Forest, Illinois earns about $61,072 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Park Forest, Illinois expensive?

In Park Forest, Illinois, the median home is worth about $115,300, and the typical rent is about $1,365 a month.

How educated are people in Park Forest, Illinois?

About 24.3% of adults age 25 and over in Park Forest, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Park Forest, Illinois?

About 17.6% of people in Park Forest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Park Forest, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Park Forest, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,500 residents, a change of about -14 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 →