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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

River Forest

Illinois · 11,669 residents · 2.48 sq mi
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The short version

River Forest is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $62,469. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $256,600. Poverty is rare here, at 2.4% of residents. Households here earn about 94% more than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 36.7
US median: 33.0
More educated
60% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,669
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 11,635 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
36.7
−5%vs 2000
vs 38.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K11K12K12K1990201020202024River Forest
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.3%(739)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 95.6%(652)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.2%(720)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.4%(977)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 249.1%(1,067)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3412.1%(1,413)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415%(1,749)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.4%(1,334)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.2%(1,076)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749%(1,055)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846%(704)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.6%(183)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,469
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $89,284 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,569
−29%vs 2000
vs $46,123 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
2.4%
−0.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$256,600
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $342,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$630
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $735 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
82.4%
−4.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 86.9% in 2000
17.6% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(11,045)
Black1.6%(182)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(280)
Asian3%(355)
Other0.7%(87)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

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
59.5%
−10.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.7% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
95.0%
−1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 96.8% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
29.9%
−8.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 38.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.2 min
+31%vs 2000
vs 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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
Drill deeper

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Compare River Forest to nearby cities

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Home value$465,500+81%
Population52,823+364%
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RIVER FOREST VS
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RIVER FOREST VS
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Home value$304,700+19%
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RIVER FOREST VS
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Home value$339,300+32%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in River Forest, Illinois?

River Forest, Illinois has about 11,669 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in River Forest, Illinois earns about $62,469 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 $256,600, and the typical rent is about $630 a month.

How educated are people in River Forest, Illinois?

About 59.5% 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 2.4% of people in River Forest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

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

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