The Town FilesForest Park, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 14,339 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $304,700
- Household income
- $77,221
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 40.0
Forest Park is a village of 14,339 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $304,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks hipper than 100% of Illinois towns, better transit than 100% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns.
How Forest Park ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest Park is worth $304,700, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $77,221, which is more affordable than 5% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,367 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $304,700 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,367 | $960 |
| Median household income | $77,221 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Forest Park
| People | Forest Park | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 24.2% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Forest Park
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.3 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Park since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 20, 2021 about 9.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 217 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 153 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 27, 2026.
Severe weather in Cook County since 1996
Cook County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 20, 2024 | Flood | DR-4819: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Floodng |
| November 20, 2023 | Flood | DR-4749: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cook County
Cook County had 2,565,567 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,931 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Forest Park itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Forest Park
5 public schools with 1,634 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proviso Math and Science Academy | 9-12 | 921 | 20.0 |
| Field Stevenson Elem School | 3-5 | 201 | 10.6 |
| Garfield Elem School | PK-2 | 192 | 12.8 |
| Forest Park Middle School | 6-8 | 184 | 10.2 |
| Betsy Ross Elem School | K-2 | 136 | 9.7 |
Towns near Forest Park
- North Riverside, IL1.6 mi · 7,426 people · home $297,800
- Maywood, IL1.7 mi · 23,512 people · home $229,800
- River Forest, IL1.8 mi · 11,717 people · home $687,300
- Oak Park, IL1.9 mi · 54,583 people · home $465,500
- Berwyn, IL2.1 mi · 57,250 people · home $299,800
- Broadview, IL2.2 mi · 7,998 people · home $252,200
- Riverside, IL2.6 mi · 9,298 people · home $491,400
- Bellwood, IL3.3 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
Forest Park questions
Is Forest Park, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Park scores better for retirees than 41% of Illinois towns and quieter than 10%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Forest Park?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Park is valued at $304,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,221, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,367 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Park?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 42.3 inches of snow.
Does Forest Park get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Park since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 20, 2021. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)