salaryRent is lower than in 75% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are long, about 31.8 minutes each way. Most homes (82.4%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $48,400 a year. That is $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Illinois cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Illinois. It is number 91 of 334 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Oak Forest?
Share of households by yearly income. 33.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Oak Forest
| Size | Oak Forest | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,239 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,505 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,590 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,001 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Oak Forest overall?
Everyday prices in Illinois overall are same as the U.S. average (index 100.0, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Oak Forest, so the Illinois figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Oak Forest
Life in Oak Forest
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Oak Forest?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $560 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $255,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $25,510 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Oak Forest, IL?
Renting in Oak Forest costs a median of about $1,210 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Illinois median is $1,517.
How much do I need to make to live in Oak Forest?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $48,400 a year, or $23 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Oak Forest cheap or expensive?
Oak Forest is rated Cheap: rent takes 14.6% of the typical household income of $99,211. It ranks 91st cheapest of 334 Illinois cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Oak Forest?
The median homeowner in Oak Forest pays $6,589 a year in property taxes, about 2.58% of the median home value.
Is Oak Forest more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Illinois are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Oak Forest?
The median home value in Oak Forest is $255,100, about 2.6 times the typical yearly household income.
26,805 people live in Oak Forest. Numbers are typical (middle) values.