Rents are 3% below what Forest Park's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,527 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Forest Park is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.
Rent in Forest Park changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 94 Illinois cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.0%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($77,221) is $1,931 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,650); a 3-bedroom is $2,120.
Broadview, 2 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,325/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Forest Park. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Forest Park, IL is roughly split between renters and owners, 51.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Forest Park, IL has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Forest Park, IL has climbed from $1,263 to $1,527, a 20.9% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $77,221 today, compared with $72,827 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.5% since 2021, moving from about 14,297 residents to roughly 13,943. Renters now make up 47.2% of households, compared with 49.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 51.5% of adults here, versus 48.3% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Forest Park on your salary?
At $1,527/mo, how Forest Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Forest Park rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Forest Park. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Forest Park
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Forest Park is $1,527/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,650/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,460/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,120/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($77,221/yr), Forest Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Forest Park?
Is rent going up or down in Forest Park?
How does Forest Park rent compare to other cities in Illinois?
At $1,527/mo, rent takes ~24% of Forest Park's median household income ($77,221/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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