What are the schools like in Oak Forest, IL?

Oak Forest is served primarily by Southwest Cook Coop Spec Ed. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools.

What is the median household income in Oak Forest?

The median household income in Oak Forest, IL is $89,758 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in Oak Forest, IL?

Oak Forest has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

Oak Forest, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Oak Forest, IL affordable or expensive?

Oak Forest's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oak Forest is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $232,400 and the median rent is $1,262 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Oak Forest, IL?

Oak Forest has a violent crime rate of 89.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 437.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oak Forest, IL a Good Place to Live?

Oak Forest is a small city of 27,199 in Illinois, with a median household income of $89,758 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Oak Forest stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Oak Forest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Oak Forest city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.6

Oak Forest's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oak Forest costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Oak Forest, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$232,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,262	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$89,758	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Oak Forest's violent crime rate is 89.1 per 100,000 residents — 77% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

89.1 /100k

Property Crime

437.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Oak Forest is served primarily by Southwest Cook Coop Spec Ed.

Metric	Oak Forest, IL	National Avg
School District	Southwest Cook Coop Spec Ed	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oak Forest sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 41.5 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oak Forest, IL
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	41.5"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Oak Forest, IL	National Avg
Population	27,199	—
Median Age	39.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.3%	18.9%
Asian	5.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Midlothian, IL 2 mi Crestwood, IL 3 mi Markham, IL 3 mi Country Club Hills, IL 3 mi Robbins, IL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Oak Forest

Oak Forest, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60452

Oak Forest vs Other Cities

Oak Forest, IL vs Midlothian, IL Oak Forest, IL vs Crestwood, IL Oak Forest, IL vs Markham, IL Oak Forest, IL vs Country Club Hills, IL Oak Forest, IL vs Robbins, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oak Forest, IL affordable or expensive?

Oak Forest's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Oak Forest roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $232,400 and median rent is $1,262/month.

What is the crime rate in Oak Forest, IL?

Oak Forest's violent crime rate is 89.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 437.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oak Forest?

Public schools in Oak Forest are operated by Southwest Cook Coop Spec Ed. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. 31.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oak Forest, IL a good place to live?

Oak Forest, IL has a population of 27,199, a median household income of $89,758, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Oak Forest?

Oak Forest averages 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.5 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oak Forest?

Oak Forest, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60452.

What is the population of Oak Forest?

The population of Oak Forest, Illinois is 27,199 with a median age of 39.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oak Forest?

Key numbers for living in Oak Forest: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $232,400, median household income $89,758, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oak Forest side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.