Median Age
41 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
19%
River Forest
River Forest, IL Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,230
Population
11,692
Renter Mix
14% Rent
Charming Chicago suburb home to forests on the river
Suburban
•
Scenic
•
Riverside
•
Family-Friendly
•
Peaceful
•
Convenient
•
Located about 11 miles west of Chicago’s Loop, River Forest is a picturesque suburb known for its gorgeous architecture and lush natural beauty. River Forest aptly contains dense wooded areas alongside the Des Plaines River, where residents enjoy a broad range of recreational activities. River Forest’s natural beauty contributes to its overall peaceful atmosphere, offering an array of apartments for rent along tranquil tree-lined streets.
The community is home to excellent educational opportunities, from its local school district to Concordia University Chicago and Dominican University—both located within River Forest’s borders. Although River Forest is predominantly residential, the community boasts the River Forest Town Center as well as close proximity to Downtown Oak Park. Commuting and traveling from River Forest is easy with access to the Green Line, Metrarail’s UP-W Line, and I-290 in addition to O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$143,225
Average: $179,331
Education
6,520
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
5,804
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
River Forest has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
14%
Non-Renters
86%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
53%
Other Education
47%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in River Forest, IL is $1,265 for a studio, $1,230 for one bedroom, $1,386 for two bedrooms, and $1,536 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in River Forest has increased by 2.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,230/month
633 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,681/month
1,008 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly River Forest, IL is for everyday living.
Moderately Walkable
Walkability
60
/ 100
Some Public Transit
Transit
40
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
347 Students
Public
Grades K-8
681 Students
Public
Grades K-5
350 Students
Public
Grades K-8
681 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Tyrell Trailside Museum / Thatcher Woods
- Cernan Earth and Space Center
- Wonder Works Children's Museum
- Oak Park Conservatory
- Austin Town Hall Park
Military Bases
Airports
- Chicago O'Hare International
- Chicago Midway International
Top Apartments in River Forest
Houses for Rent in River Forest
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
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.