City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Park Forest, PA

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

8,810
Residents
$79,363
Median income
$383,100
Median home
$1,406
Median rent (state)

Park Forest - the verdict

Nationally, Park Forest sits in the 61st percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

61st
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
54th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Park Forest, PA

8,810 people live in Park Forest, Pennsylvania - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $79,363 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.6%. Home values in Park Forest run a median of $383,100, and the median resident age is 37.1 years. About 75.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,406 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Pennsylvania run around $260, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Park Forest workers runs 10.9 minutes, with 53.6% driving alone and 25.5% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 68.0 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

8,810 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$79,363 /yr

Poverty 9.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Park Forest compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 54% pricier than other cities

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

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 Park Forest'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 Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

61stIncome percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Park Forest's home value compares nationally

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

$383,100 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Park Forest $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 - Park Forest, PA Park Forest, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Park Forest, PA-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 Park Forest, PA median $79,363/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%
Park Forest, PA'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 Park Forest, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 75.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.6%

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

Population
8,810
Median Income
$79,363
Median Home Value
$383,100
Median Age
37.1
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Labor force participation
56.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
75.6%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
10.9 minutes
Drive Alone
53.6%
Carpool
7.6%
Public Transit
6.1%
Walk
2.9%
Work from Home
25.5%
Other
4.3%

Based on 4,318 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Park Forest sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,406/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Carbondale
8,820 people
Collingdale
8,862 people
East York
8,868 people
Beaver Falls
8,885 people
Village Green-Green Ridge
8,725 people
Jeannette
8,719 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Park Forest's 8,810 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fort Valley, GA
8,808 people
Savoy, IL
8,807 people
Aransas Pass, TX
8,807 people
Baxter, MN
8,804 people
Boonton, NJ
8,803 people
Valley Cottage, NY
8,803 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Park Forest's $79,363 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Waverly, AL
$79,375 median income
Bee Ridge, FL
$79,375 median income
Gillsville, GA
$79,375 median income
Henning, IL
$79,375 median income
Hancock, IA
$79,375 median income
La Motte, IA
$79,375 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Park Forest, PA 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 Park Forest, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.3% 11.8% 9.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.8% White 76.3% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 11.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 9.1% 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 Park Forest compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Park Forest (this city) 8,810 $79,363
Carbondale 8,820 $48,592
Collingdale 8,862 $49,578
East York 8,868 $83,030
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Park Forest, PA?

What is the population of Park Forest, PA? +

8,810 people live in Park Forest, PA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Park Forest is $79,363 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Park Forest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Park Forest; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

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

Homes in Park Forest carry a median value of $383,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.