Forest Park

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Forest Park, IL Area Guide

Experience big-city access with small-town charm

Accessible Convenient Family-Friendly Close-Knit Active Affordable Suburban

Just ten miles west of downtown Chicago, Forest Park sits at the western end of the CTA Blue Line, making it one of the few suburbs with a direct “L” train connection to the city. The Des Plaines River traces the edge of town, and the streets are lined with locally owned restaurants and pubs that give the main corridor on Madison Street a real neighborhood personality. Nearby Oak Park is a short drive away, adding even more dining and shopping options to an already well-rounded area.

Renters here will find a mix of courtyard-style apartment communities, garden flats, and updated multi-unit buildings that offer more space than a comparable Chicago address. Whether you prefer a cozy studio or a two-bedroom with room to spread out, the rental landscape covers a solid range of options. The Blue Line connection means you can skip the expressway entirely on most days, and the Eisenhower is right there when you need it. Forest Park also holds one of Illinois' most historically significant cemeteries, Forest Home, where labor movement leaders including Emma Goldman are buried—a reminder that this small village carries a bigger story than its three square miles might suggest.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Forest Park, IL is $971 for a studio, $1,231 for one bedroom, $1,663 for two bedrooms, and $1,269 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Forest Park has increased by 2.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,231/month
674 Sq Ft
Condo
$1,809/month
718 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Forest Park, IL

Getting Around

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

70 / 100

Good Public Transit

Transit

60 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

50 / 100

Schools

Grant-White Elementary School

Public

Grades 3-5

77 Students

Garfield Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

Forest Park Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Schuth's Grove / Callahan Grove
  • Oak Park Conservatory
  • Andrew Toman Grove
  • Tyrell Trailside Museum / Thatcher Woods
  • Brookfield Zoo

Airports

  • Chicago Midway International
  • Chicago O'Hare International

Top Apartments in Forest Park

Houses for Rent in Forest Park

Property Management Companies in Forest Park, IL

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.