Oak Park, IL vs Park Forest, IL

The cost of living difference between Oak Park, IL and Park Forest, IL is dramatic. Park Forest is 37.8% cheaper than Oak Park, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Oak Park has a cost index of 117 while Park Forest sits at 85, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Park is $1,456/month compared to $1,341/month in Park Forest — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Park Forest is more affordable at $106,200 median vs $456,300.

Median household income in Oak Park is $108,026 compared to $62,305 in Park Forest (+73.4%). While Oak Park is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Oak Park spend roughly 16.2% of their income on rent, less than the 25.8% in Park Forest.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 52.1°F). Park Forest receives more rainfall at 34.4" per year compared to 34.4" in Oak Park.