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River Forest, Illinois

village · Cook County (primary) , Winnebago County

At a glance

11,992
Population
$687,300
Median home value (all homes)
127% above U.S. median
$722,486
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,554/mo
Median rent
15% above U.S. median
$146,786
Median household income
87% above U.S. median
32.5 min
Average commute
95.9%
Homes with broadband
65.29%
Locations with fiber available
8.1%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 143 — 43% above the national average. how it's computed

Housing144% above
Goods & services4% above
Utilities3% above
Taxes9% above
Insurance18% below
Commute cost17% above
For business: Illinois is CBII band 3/5 · time to build band 2/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Colleges in town:
Concordia University-Chicago Graduate degrees
Dominican University Graduate degrees
Nearest 4-year college1 mi
Nearest community college1 mi
Nearest technical college3 mi
High school graduates96.9%
College graduates72.9%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city River Forest
The Economic Development Commission is a seven-member Village of River Forest body that advises the Village Board on the economic and community impact of potential developments, identifies underutilized properties and develops strategies for their highest and best use, encourages and supports development, investigates and recommends incentives to facilitate economic growth, maintains relationships with existing businesses, and coordinates economic development outreach.
county Winnebago County Economic Development
Official Winnebago County government page that includes an Economic Development department and information about county governance, committees, and administration for residents and businesses in Winnebago County, Illinois.
state Ameren Economic Development Services
Ameren provides energy services in Illinois and Missouri, including energy efficiency programs, electric vehicles, renewables, and economic development resources for businesses.
state Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is the state's commerce department focused on creating equitable economic opportunities by attracting and supporting job creators, investing in communities, strengthening Illinois’ workforce, fostering innovation, and advancing the clean energy economy.
state Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce & Eco Dev
Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development is a regional economic development organization with a focus on business retention and expansion for both small businesses and large industrial corporations.
state NW Illinois Economic Development
NW Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) promotes economic development by fostering business growth and assisting expanding and relocating businesses, providing access to resources to start and grow their businesses, and coordinating with government and business partners.
state Northwest Illinois Development Alliance
NW Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) promotes economic development by fostering business growth and assisting expanding and relocating businesses in cooperation with government and business partners. It supports entrepreneurs by providing access to resources to start and grow their businesses and aims to create a welcoming business environment by matching the skills of the available workforce with business needs.
state Quad Cities First
Community development organization focused on local business growth; the Quad Cities Chamber helps members connect, collaborate and grow, advocates for business at city halls, in state legislatures and in Washington, D.C., and supports small and minority business development.
state Research Park at University of Illinois
Research Park is a leading technology hub on the University of Illinois campus that cultivates startups and accelerates corporate innovation. It hosts 120+ companies and over 2,000 affiliated employees, with EnterpriseWorks serving as the incubator for early-stage tech firms.
state Southwestern Illinois Development Authority
The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority (SWIDA) is a quasi-governmental, municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly in 1987 to promote and enhance community and economic development in Bond, Clinton, Madison and St. Clair counties. It operates without tax dollars and uses bonds and other financing tools, real estate development services and technical development assistance.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateNo

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