River Forest brings together the quiet dignity of an Illinois woodland village and the cultural energy of a major metro area, all within 11 miles of Chicago's Loop. The village's compact three-square-mile footprint is stitched together by tree-lined streets and architecture that stops people mid-stride, including the Winslow House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's earliest residential designs. Two universities, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago, give the community an academic presence that shapes its atmosphere year-round.
Most residents commute to Chicago for work, with Metra's Union Pacific West Line offering direct service to the city from the village's own station. The housing mix here leans heavily toward classic single-family homes and smaller apartment communities tucked along residential corridors, many reflecting the Prairie School influence that defines the area's architectural character.
