What are the schools like in Oak Park, IL?

Oak Park is served primarily by Oak Park ESD 97. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Oak Park?

The median household income in Oak Park, IL is $103,264 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 Park, IL?

Oak Park has an average high temperature of 32.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Oak Park, IL affordable or expensive?

Oak Park's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oak Park is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $440,500 and the median rent is $1,409 per month.

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

Oak Park has a violent crime rate of 323.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3607.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oak Park, IL a Good Place to Live?

Oak Park is a mid-sized city of 53,834 in Illinois, with a median household income of $103,264 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 Park stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

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

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

Metric	Oak Park, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$440,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,409	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$103,264	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Oak Park's violent crime rate is 323.5 per 100,000 residents — 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

323.5 /100k

Property Crime

3607.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Oak Park is served primarily by Oak Park ESD 97. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oak Park, IL	National Avg
School District	Oak Park ESD 97	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	71.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oak Park sees average highs of 32.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 40.6 inches of annual precipitation and 42.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oak Park, IL
Average High — January	32.7°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	40.6"
Annual Snowfall	42.3"

Demographics

Metric	Oak Park, IL	National Avg
Population	53,834	—
Median Age	40.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	63.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	19.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.1%	18.9%
Asian	5.9%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

River Forest, IL 2 mi Forest Park, IL 2 mi Elmwood Park, IL 3 mi Maywood, IL 3 mi Berwyn, IL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Oak Park

Oak Park, IL is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

60302 60304 60301

Oak Park vs Other Cities

Oak Park, IL vs River Forest, IL Oak Park, IL vs Forest Park, IL Oak Park, IL vs Elmwood Park, IL Oak Park, IL vs Maywood, IL Oak Park, IL vs Berwyn, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oak Park, IL affordable or expensive?

Oak Park's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Oak Park roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $440,500 and median rent is $1,409/month.

What is the crime rate in Oak Park, IL?

Oak Park's violent crime rate is 323.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3607.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oak Park?

Public schools in Oak Park are operated by Oak Park ESD 97. The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 71.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oak Park, IL a good place to live?

Oak Park, IL has a population of 53,834, a median household income of $103,264, 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 Park?

Oak Park averages 32.7°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.6 inches with about 42.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oak Park?

Oak Park, IL is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 60302, 60304, 60301.

What is the population of Oak Park?

The population of Oak Park, Illinois is 53,834 with a median age of 40.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

Key numbers for living in Oak Park: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $440,500, median household income $103,264, crime index 120 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oak Park side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.