The Town FilesRiver Forest, Illinois
Village in Cook County · population 11,717 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $687,300
- Household income
- $146,786
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 40.0
River Forest is a village of 11,717 people in Cook County, Illinois. The median home is worth $687,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Illinois towns, hipper than 99% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns.
How River Forest 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 River Forest is worth $687,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $146,786, which is more affordable than 1% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,554 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | River Forest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $687,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,554 | $960 |
| Median household income | $146,786 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in River Forest
| People | River Forest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.5% | — |
| Work from home | 26.8% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in River Forest
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 River Forest since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 12, 1976 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 225 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 174 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 River Forest itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in River Forest
3 public schools with 1,350 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt School | 5-8 | 640 | 10.3 |
| Lincoln Elem School | K-4 | 363 | 12.1 |
| Willard Elem School | PK-4 | 347 | 12.0 |
Towns near River Forest
- Oak Park, IL1.6 mi · 54,583 people · home $465,500
- Maywood, IL1.7 mi · 23,512 people · home $229,800
- Forest Park, IL1.8 mi · 14,339 people · home $304,700
- Elmwood Park, IL1.9 mi · 24,521 people · home $339,300
- River Grove, IL2.3 mi · 10,612 people · home $241,800
- Melrose Park, IL2.4 mi · 24,796 people · home $275,800
- Bellwood, IL3.1 mi · 18,789 people · home $230,000
- Broadview, IL3.2 mi · 7,998 people · home $252,200
River Forest questions
Is River Forest, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, River Forest scores better for retirees than 34% of Illinois towns and quieter than 7%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in River Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in River Forest is valued at $687,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $146,786, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,554 a month.
What is the weather like in River Forest?
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 River Forest get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of River Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 12, 1976. 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)