Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Park Forest, IL Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

21,156

Median Agei

36.9

Race & Ethnicityi

Black

67.4%14,254

White

19.7%4,176

Hispanic/Latino

9.7%2,046

Two or More

2.7%561

Asian

0.3%73

Other

0.1%25

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%14

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%7

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.5%501

High School Diploma

22.3%3,186

Some College (<1 yr)

9.1%1,307

Some College (1+ yr)

22.1%3,161

Associate's Degree

10.2%1,466

Bachelor's Degree

15.6%2,226

Master's Degree

6.8%980

Professional Degree

1.1%162

Doctorate

0.8%115

HS or Higher

91.6%

BA or Higher

24.3%

Graduate+

8.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$115,300

Median Renti

$1,365

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

65.8%5,351

Renter-Occupied

34.2%2,778

Total Units

8,841

Homeownership

65.8%

Vacancy Rate

8.1%

Home Values

Under $50K

25.7%1,373

$50K–$100K

15.4%823

$100K–$150K

26%1,390

$150K–$200K

17.1%914

$200K–$300K

12.5%667

$300K–$500K

2.7%143

$500K–$1M

0.8%41

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

237

$750–$1,000

348

$1,000–$1,250

376

$1,250–$1,500

575

$1,500–$2,000

688

$2,000+

324

Year Built

2010–2019

0.3%25

2000–2009

2.5%217

1990–1999

2.6%226

1980–1989

3.1%272

1970–1979

10.9%962

1960–1969

21.3%1,883

1950–1959

47.9%4,236

1940–1949

8.7%767

1939 or earlier

2.9%253

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

89.8%7,298

Electricity

8.9%722

Bottled/LP Gas

0.8%66

Other

0.4%35

No Fuel

0.1%8

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$61,072

Mean Household Incomei

$75,877

Per Capita Incomei

$30,021

Poverty Ratei

17.6%

Unemploymenti

8.7%

Labor Forcei

10,476

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.2%503

$10K–$15K

2.9%239

$15K–$20K

3.1%248

$20K–$25K

4.6%375

$25K–$30K

5.4%437

$30K–$35K

3.8%311

$35K–$40K

6.2%501

$40K–$45K

5.5%448

$45K–$50K

5.3%430

$50K–$60K

5.8%473

$60K–$75K

12.6%1,026

$75K–$100K

10%814

$100K–$125K

10.4%848

$125K–$150K

4.7%383

$150K–$200K

10.6%862

$200K+

2.8%231

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

422

Residentsi

743

Avg. Tenant Renti

$448/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers182 homes83% occupied$519/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8238 homes95% occupied$394/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $61,072/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $18K/yr

78%

Very low income$18K–$31K/yr

19.7%

Low income$31K–$49K/yr

2.3%

Who Receives This Housing

84.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

87.7% of subsidized households are minority

26.6% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

51.9% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

9,159

Avg. Commutei

31.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

9,568

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

745(4.6% of civilian adults)