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River Forest, IL
Full City Profile · Illinois · Cook County County
3.7
/5.0
B+
Good
11,489
Population
4,633/sq mi density
$148,711
Median Income
$92,547 per capita
$676,900
Home Value
$708,168 Zillow
$1,411
Median Rent
37.2% income on rent
52°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
110
Violent Crime/100K
2,135 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.7 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$148,711 median income, 4.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.1 / 5.0
$676,900 home value, $1,411/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
110 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
73.4% bachelor's degree or higher
River Forest experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 34.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-3°C)
76°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 52.1°F |
| 4% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 76°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 627 ft (191 m) |
| Area | 1.0 sq mi (2.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 4,633/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 41.8949°N, 87.8191°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Cook County County |
| Nearest Airport | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 7 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0460 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 20.6 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 1.33 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.29 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 10.1 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very High |
| Risk Score | 100.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 61.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 73.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very High |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very High |
| Hail | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Very High |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Very High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Very High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1954 | MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) | Avalanche | 3.0 m | 7 | 81 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.8 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 1.6 in | Driest |
| March | 38°F (3°C) | 2.6 in | |
| April | 49°F (9°C) | 3.8 in | |
| May | 60°F (16°C) | 3.6 in | |
| June | 70°F (21°C) | 4.0 in | |
| July | 76°F (25°C) | 3.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| September | 65°F (18°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 in | |
| November | 40°F (5°C) | 3.1 in | |
| December | 28°F (-2°C) | 2.5 in |
River Forest has a seasonal temperature swing of 50°F / from 26°F in January to 76°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 37.0 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.6").