City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Forest Park, IL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Forest Park - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,000
Residents
$81,323
Median income
$293,800
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Forest Park - the verdict

Nationally, Forest Park sits in the 63rd percentile for household income and the 13th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

63rd
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
13th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Forest Park, IL

14,000 people live in Forest Park, Illinois - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Forest Park brings in $81,323 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.9%. Forest Park's housing stock carries a median value of $293,800, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. About 49.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 14 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Forest Park's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3246.6 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). The average commute for Forest Park workers runs 23.5 minutes, with 54.9% driving alone and 19.0% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 100.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

14,000 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$81,323 /yr

Poverty 4.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Forest Park compare to other US cities?

Here's how Forest Park stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 63% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 13% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Illinois and the picture shifts: Forest Park ranks #419 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Forest Park's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Illinois, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

63rdIncome percentile
13thSafety percentile

63rd percentile nationally for median household income · 13th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Forest Park's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Forest Park's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Forest Park's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Forest Park's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$293,800 36th percentile more affordable than 36% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Forest Park $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Forest Park, IL Forest Park, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Forest Park, IL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Forest Park, IL median $81,323/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Forest Park, IL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Forest Park, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,000
Median Income
$81,323
Median Home Value
$293,800
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
4.9%
Labor force participation
64.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3246.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
416.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2830.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
13,600 residents13,800 residents14,000 residents14,200 residents14,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,279 residents 13,829 residents ▼ -3.2%
Forest Park's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
14
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 1
2021 3
2022 2
2023 1
2024 14

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.5 minutes
Drive Alone
54.9%
Carpool
7.2%
Public Transit
10.8%
Walk
4.5%
Work from Home
19.0%
Other
3.6%

Based on 7,604 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Illinois - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Forest Park sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Wauconda
14,010 people
Beach Park
13,988 people
Midlothian
14,024 people
Wood Dale
13,926 people
Shiloh
14,109 people
Channahon
13,854 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest Park's 14,000 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pierre, SD
14,008 people
Sharonville, OH
13,989 people
Greenwood, MS
13,983 people
Fort Lewis, WA
13,983 people
Destin, FL
14,018 people
Anderson Creek, NC
14,021 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Forest Park's $81,323 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Los Chaves, NM
$81,320 median income
Redfield, IA
$81,328 median income
Ross, ND
$81,328 median income
Assaria, KS
$81,333 median income
Odessa, NY
$81,333 median income
Liscomb, IA
$81,336 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Forest Park, IL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Forest Park, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.9% 24.8% 7.2% 6.7% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.1% White 53.9% Black or African American 24.8% Asian 7.2% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 6.7% Two or more races 7.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Forest Park compares to nearby Illinois cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Forest Park (this city) 14,000 $81,323
Wauconda 14,010 $112,438
Beach Park 13,988 $83,069
Midlothian 14,024 $67,872
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Forest Park, IL?

What is the population of Forest Park, IL? +

Forest Park, IL counts 14,000 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Forest Park, IL? +

Forest Park households earn a median of $81,323 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Forest Park? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Forest Park; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Forest Park, IL safe? +

Forest Park has a total crime rate of 3246.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Forest Park, IL? +

Homes in Forest Park carry a median value of $293,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.