River Forest, Illinois Demographics & Population 2026

Name: River Forest, Illinois Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, River Forest, Illinois had a total population of 11,992, the 199th largest village in Illinois, with a median household income of $146,786, which is 76% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 2.7%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Household income is 76% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Illinois.
An exceptionally low poverty rate of 2.7% — among the lowest in Illinois.
72.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Illinois.
Unemployment rate of 8.1% is notably above the national average.

River Forest Quick Facts

Population 11,992

Median Household Income $146,786

Median Home Value $687,300

Poverty Rate 2.7%

Unemployment Rate 8.1%

Median Age 40.0 years

Homeownership Rate 87.7%

Affordability Ratio 4.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 72.9%

High School Graduation Rate 96.9%

Diversity Index 38/100

Population 11,992 199th of 1,445

Median Income $146,786 top 10%

Poverty Rate 2.7% 78% lower than national

Median Home Value $687,300 top 10%

How River Forest Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	11,489	11,992	+4.4%
Median household income	$148,711	$146,786	-1.3%
Median home value	$676,900	$687,300	+1.5%

How River Forest Compares

Median Household Income

River Forest

$146,786

$83,390

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

River Forest

$687,300

$263,300

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 6.8%

$25K-$50K 18.0%

$50K-$100K 16.8%

$100K+ 58.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

2.0%

$10K-$15K

0.9%

$15K-$20K

1.4%

$20K-$25K

2.5%

$25K-$30K

3.6%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

1.8%

$40K-$45K

4.3%

$45K-$50K

5.9%

$50K-$60K

3.6%

$60K-$75K

7.8%

$75K-$100K

5.4%

$100K-$125K

4.3%

$125K-$150K

4.9%

$150K-$200K

8.4%

$200K+

40.8%

Employment

8.1% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8%|National: 5.2%

61.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 87.7%

Renter 12.3%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,554/mo 12.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.5%

18-34

19.7%

35-54

24.2%

55-74

23.4%

75+

8.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 61 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

River Forest Rankings in Illinois

#199 Population of 1,445

#58 Median Income of 1,374

#30 Education of 1,444

#23 Home Value of 1,372

Explore Illinois Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Cook County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Chicago	2,711,226	$77,902	16.8%	$334,100
Elgin	114,934	$90,282	9.8%	$273,000
Cicero	82,797	$70,842	14.6%	$249,400
Schaumburg	76,868	$97,514	5.7%	$330,400
Evanston	76,340	$96,434	11.8%	$481,200
Arlington Heights	76,005	$116,723	6.0%	$414,500
Palatine	66,293	$97,819	8.2%	$355,600
Skokie	66,219	$95,337	9.7%	$387,200
Des Plaines	59,156	$97,875	6.0%	$335,600
Orland Park	57,916	$98,910	7.3%	$367,200

Cities Similar to River Forest

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Barrington	11,077	$147,989	$582,500	68.0%	4.6%
Burr Ridge	11,141	$156,829	$700,400	66.6%	3.9%
Manhattan	11,026	$128,522	$332,600	34.9%	4.2%
Troy	11,647	$112,434	$268,000	45.2%	2.0%
Palos Heights	12,152	$108,740	$367,100	43.6%	5.2%

Population Overview

River Forest is a small city located in Illinois, within Cook County. The total population is 11,992. It ranks as the 199th most populous out of 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in River Forest is 40.0 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in River Forest is $146,786. This is 76% higher than the state median of $83,390. It is also 82% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 2.7%. This is 77% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 8.1%. This is 38% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $687,300. Housing costs are 161% higher than the state median of $263,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x. 87.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 31% higher than the state average of 67.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in River Forest is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.9%. The Black or African American population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 13.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.9%) is well below the state average of 18.8%.

Education

72.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places River Forest in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 92% higher than the state rate of 37.9%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.9%. Notably, 45.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for River Forest, Illinois is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Illinois state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,445 Census-designated places in Illinois. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of River Forest, Illinois?

River Forest, Illinois has a population of 11,992 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in River Forest, IL?

The median household income in River Forest is $146,786, which is 82% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in River Forest, IL?

The poverty rate in River Forest is 2.7%. This means approximately 301 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of River Forest, Illinois?

River Forest's population is 77.8% White, 4.9% Black, 6.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in River Forest, IL?

The median home value in River Forest is $687,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.7x.

How educated is River Forest, Illinois?

72.9% of adults (25+) in River Forest hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 45.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.