Housing, rent, and a comparison to the US average.
The median home value in River Forest, IL is $739,742 as of 2026-04. That places River Forest above the US average for housing cost, with a cost index of approximately 208 versus a national baseline of 100.
Over the past 12 months, the median home value in River Forest has climbed 12.2%, and over the past five years it has averaged +5.9% annual growth. The current price sits +0.0% from its 5-year peak in 2026-04.
Beyond housing, day-to-day costs in River Forest are shaped by state and local taxes, utility rates, transportation, and groceries. This page focuses on the housing component, which is the largest single line in most household budgets and the easiest to compare across cities using consistent national data.
Housing
| Median home value | $739,742 |
| 1-year change | +12.2% |
| 5-year CAGR | +5.9% |
| 10-year CAGR | +4.3% |
| vs 5-year peak | +0.0% |
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).
How River Forest compares
| Cost index | 208 (above US) |
| Median home vs US (~$355k) | +108.4% |
| Population | 11,909 |
| Momentum score | 75 (Rising) |
Cost index is currently a housing-only proxy; full BLS basket coming with ACS pull.
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.