Forest Park 84 Exceptional
Forest Park Livability #24 ranked city in Illinois#590 ranked city in the USARanks better than 97% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Forest Park

PROS
  • Amenities

    The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.

  • Commute

    A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.

  • Employment

    This area excels in the employment category with a score well above average, primarily due to the higher median home income, per capita income and low unemployment rates.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Ratings

    Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.

CONS
  • Crime

    This area exhibits elevated crime rates per 100,000 residents, which may suggest it's a potentially unsafe place to reside. These rates encompass both property and violent crimes.

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What's it like Living in Forest Park?

Located in the state of Illinois, Forest Park is a medium-sized city with a population of 13,808 residents. With a population density of 5,749 people per square mile, Forest Park is well above the nation's average density level. Forest Park is mostly populated by White (57%) and Black or African American (28%) ethnic groups. Forest Park is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 40% married, this city falls well below the national average. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Forest Park offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 33 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Forest Park could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Illinois if you know where to look. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, employment and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Forest Park and in the areas around Forest Park is a much easier task.

The livability score in Forest Park is 83 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 97th percentile of all cities across America. Clearly, Forest Park is doing something right, as this score ranks well above the average of most cities. The cherry on top is that Forest Park also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Forest Park has been rewarded with high marks for education (C+), employment (A-) and housing (A+). Forest Park does not fare well for the following: crime (F). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Living in Forest Park offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Forest Park provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Forest Park has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Forest Park is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Forest Park come in at $245,900, which is 40.7% higher than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Forest Park, the home price to income ratio is 3.5, which is 16.7% higher than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Forest Park

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Compare Forest Park, IL Livability

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      Forest Park transportation information

      Statistic Forest Park Illinois National
      Average one way commute33min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work54.6%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.3%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit18.8%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.2%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk4.7%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home11.2%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Forest Park, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).