What are the schools like in River Forest, IL?

River Forest is served primarily by River Forest SD 90. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

What is the median household income in River Forest?

The median household income in River Forest, IL is $144,784 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in River Forest, IL?

River Forest 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.

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

Q: Is River Forest, IL affordable or expensive?

River Forest's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means River Forest is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $668,900 and the median rent is $1,347 per month.

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

River Forest has a violent crime rate of 90.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2472.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is River Forest, IL a Good Place to Live?

River Forest is a small city of 11,568 in Illinois, with a median household income of $144,784 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: River Forest stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether River Forest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All River 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

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

Metric	River Forest, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$668,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,347	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$144,784	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

River Forest's violent crime rate is 90.3 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

90.3 /100k

Property Crime

2472.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

River Forest is served primarily by River Forest SD 90. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	River Forest, IL	National Avg
School District	River Forest SD 90	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	76.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

River Forest 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	River Forest, IL
Average High — January	32.7°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	40.6"
Annual Snowfall	42.3"

Demographics

Metric	River Forest, IL	National Avg
Population	11,568	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.6%	6.3%
Under 18	24.0%	22.2%
65 and over	17.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Oak Park, IL 2 mi Maywood, IL 2 mi Forest Park, IL 2 mi Elmwood Park, IL 2 mi River Grove, IL 2 mi

ZIP Codes in River Forest

River Forest, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60305

River Forest vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is River Forest, IL affordable or expensive?

River Forest's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts River Forest roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $668,900 and median rent is $1,347/month.

What is the crime rate in River Forest, IL?

River Forest's violent crime rate is 90.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2472.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in River Forest?

Public schools in River Forest are operated by River Forest SD 90. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.4:1. 76.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is River Forest, IL a good place to live?

River Forest, IL has a population of 11,568, a median household income of $144,784, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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 River Forest?

River Forest 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 River Forest?

River Forest, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60305.

What is the population of River Forest?

The population of River Forest, Illinois is 11,568 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

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

Key numbers for living in River Forest: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $668,900, median household income $144,784, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare River Forest side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.