Population 14,019 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Forest Park
Household size in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.10 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.00 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.01 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Forest Park are small: just 2.01 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only five of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.8 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.5 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Forest Park is 42.2 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.4, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in eight households in Forest Park (12.6%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Chicago area (11.5%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.7 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Forest Park
Renters in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.9% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.0% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 48.3% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.2% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Forest Park than nationally: 47.2% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. About a third of owners (33.2%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 5.7 points, even as the national share rose. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Forest Park as nationally: 9.3%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Chicago area overall (7.2%). Vacancy has edged down 1.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1947 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | −6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Forest Park is a place of older homes: half were built before 1947, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only five have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $909 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $977 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,097 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,360 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$451 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Forest Park costs $1,360 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $451 a month from 2006–10, a 50% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Forest Park
Bachelor's degrees in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.5% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.1% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 52.2% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.8 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Forest Park is highly educated: just over half of adults 25 and older (52.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 12.8 points, as it has nationally. Forest Park has a higher share of college graduates than the great majority of Illinois cities.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Forest Park: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.5 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Forest Park
| Period | Forest Park | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.0 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Forest Park runs below the national rate: 4.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 4.0 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Forest Park compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Park | 2.01 | 42.2 | 12.6% | 47.2% | 9.3% | 1947 | $1,360 | 52.2% | 94.7% | 4.5% |
| Oak Park | 2.37 | 40.8 | 9.3% | 40.0% | 7.4% | 1945 | $1,564 | 72.4% | 97.6% | 5.8% |
| River Forest | 2.62 | 40.6 | 6.0% | 12.3% | 6.6% | 1949 | $1,807 | 72.7% | 97.3% | 7.8% |
| Hines | 1.44 | 66.5 | 16.3% | 54.3% | 4.9% | 1959 | $613 | 29.0% | 83.2% | 12.9% |
| Maywood | 3.15 | 35.6 | 20.0% | 40.0% | 10.7% | 1941 | $1,380 | 18.6% | 80.8% | 8.0% |
| North Riverside | 2.35 | 42.9 | 11.6% | 33.4% | 4.9% | 1956 | $1,267 | 42.0% | 97.0% | 1.4% |
| Berwyn | 2.81 | 39.4 | 14.5% | 38.9% | 9.3% | 1942 | $1,316 | 24.5% | 84.6% | 6.6% |
| Broadview | 2.65 | 36.6 | 20.8% | 41.3% | 8.2% | 1953 | $1,172 | 17.3% | 79.2% | 4.2% |
| Riverside | 2.65 | 44.4 | 9.6% | 16.8% | 12.2% | 1939 | $1,452 | 71.9% | 98.0% | 2.3% |
| Cicero | 3.50 | 34.9 | 20.9% | 45.4% | 7.7% | 1942 | $1,225 | 11.5% | 69.1% | 4.7% |
| Elmwood Park | 2.66 | 41.1 | 12.9% | 34.4% | 8.2% | 1955 | $1,436 | 31.7% | 87.2% | 6.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ottawa, KS · Port Washington, WI · Port Washington, NY · Port Royal, SC · Port Neches, TX · Port Lavaca, TX · Port Jervis, NY · Pontotoc, MS · Plymouth, WI · Plover, WI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Forest Park. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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