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CITY

River Forest

Illinois · 11,393 residents (2025 est.) · 2.48 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#264Most educatedof 6,82672.9%#298Lowest poverty rateof 6,8232.7%
The short version

River Forest is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $146,786. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 73% 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 $687,300. Poverty is rare here, at 2.7% of residents. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
73% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,992
+3%since 2000
from 11,635 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4,835 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 4,485 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.0
+4%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,393 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K11K12K12K1990201020202024River Forest
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.3%(752)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.3%(639)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(840)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1912%(1,436)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(564)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 348.9%(1,073)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.4%(1,248)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.8%(1,659)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.8%(1,532)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.6%(1,277)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.6%(789)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(183)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$146,786
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,284 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$91,438
+98%since 2000
from $46,123 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
63.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
2.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.547
+3%since 2010
from 0.529 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services13.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration10.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Information6.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade3.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$687,300
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $342,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,554
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $735 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 86.9% in 2000
12.3% rent
Vacancy rate
4.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
77.0%
+55.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.7
−14%since 2009
from 5.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
15
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in River Forest on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.7%(10,084)
Black4.8%(553)
Hispanic / Latino4%(466)
Asian3.1%(362)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic77.8%(9,331)
Black4.9%(586)
Hispanic / Latino6.9%(825)
Asian5.5%(659)
Other4.9%(591)
Diversity Score
48
+21%since 2009
from 39 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(337)
Puerto Rican1.1%(137)
Colombian1.1%(129)
Bolivian0.7%(81)
Cuban0.4%(48)
Argentine0.1%(13)
Asian origin
Chinese1.2%(139)
Korean1%(118)
Asian Indian0.9%(108)
Filipino0.8%(94)
Cambodian0.4%(48)
Japanese0.3%(38)
Taiwanese0.3%(36)
Vietnamese0.1%(14)
Sri Lankan0.1%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
Irish23.1%(2,766)
German18.9%(2,270)
Italian10.1%(1,208)
Polish9.5%(1,143)
English7.9%(944)
American3.7%(449)
Czech3.5%(415)
Greek2.6%(310)
Swedish2.6%(310)
French2.5%(296)
Scottish2.3%(279)
Lithuanian1.9%(231)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Austrian1.4%(172)
Belgian0.8%(92)
Dutch0.8%(90)
Russian0.7%(89)
Australian0.7%(83)
Croatian0.6%(75)
Swiss0.6%(68)
British0.5%(62)
Norwegian0.5%(61)
Finnish0.5%(58)
Welsh0.4%(53)
Arab0.4%(51)
Canadian0.4%(46)
Slovak0.3%(40)
Hungarian0.3%(37)
Ukrainian0.3%(37)
West Indian0.3%(37)
Danish0.3%(34)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(33)
Jamaican0.3%(32)
Latvian0.2%(25)
Slovene0.1%(12)
Iranian0.1%(7)
Israeli0.1%(7)
Moroccan0.1%(6)
Nigerian0.1%(6)
Haitian0%(5)
Somali0%(3)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Polish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
72.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 96.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
45.3%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 38.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
32.5 min
+69%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
41.8%
−18.0 ptssince 2009
from 59.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
19.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
26.8%
+18.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.8%
−5.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.1%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
71.3%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 83.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Foreign born
12.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.1%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
7.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2012
from 7.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.9%
−91.8 ptssince 2013
from 94.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.9%
+9.2 ptssince 2017
from 86.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 87.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 5.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.2%(1,917)
Married53.1%(2,530)
Widowed0.1%(6)
Divorced6.6%(315)
Women 15+
Never married29.8%(1,490)
Married50.7%(2,531)
Widowed7.1%(355)
Divorced12.4%(617)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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RIVER FOREST VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in River Forest, Illinois?

River Forest, Illinois has about 11,992 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in River Forest, Illinois earns about $146,786 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is River Forest, Illinois expensive?

In River Forest, Illinois, the median home is worth about $687,300, and the typical rent is about $1,554 a month.

How educated are people in River Forest, Illinois?

About 72.9% of adults age 25 and over in River Forest, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in River Forest, Illinois?

About 2.7% of people in River Forest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has River Forest, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, River Forest, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 323 residents, a change of about 3 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 →