In Oak Forest, a typical home is worth $255,100 and typical rent is $1,328 a month. Compared with all of Cook County, the typical home value is 21% lower, typical household income is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 25 points higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $239,047 to $301,258.
Typical rent
$2,140a month
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2026 to September 2026: from $2,117 to $2,140.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Oak Forest is in Cook County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cook County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
82% of households in Oak Forest own their home, against 58% in Cook County.
2
Nearby, in Markham, the typical home value is $135,300: 47% less than in Oak Forest ($255,100).
3
The typical home in Oak Forest is worth $255,100,21% less than in Cook County as a whole ($324,500).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Oak Forest
What homes there are in Oak Forest, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Kind of home: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Detached house
68%
40%
58%
61%
Attached house
5%
6%
6%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
4%
19%
12%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
23%
35%
22%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
The detached house rules in Oak Forest: 68% of homes, more than in Cook County (40%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Year built: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Before 1960
11%
49%
38%
26%
1960–1979
52%
25%
26%
24%
1980–1999
27%
14%
20%
25%
2000–2009
8%
8%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
6%
11%
Homes in Oak Forest are newer: the typical year built is 1975; in Cook County, 1961.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K9%
$100K–$200K22%
$200K–$300K39%
$300K–$500K28%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Under $100K
9%
$100K–$200K
22%
$200K–$300K
39%
$300K–$500K
28%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA limit for Cook County is high ($541,287): at least 98% of owner-occupied homes in Oak Forest are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49959%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
59%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,899 a month
Cook County: $2,270 a month
Without a mortgage
$878 a month
Cook County: $910 a month
Owners with a mortgage
70%
Cook County: 62%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Oak Forest is $1,899 a month, less than in Cook County ($2,270); without one, $878.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Oak Forest+31%
Cook County+32%
Illinois+35%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Oak Forest+23%
Cook County+28%
Illinois+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Oak Forest+20%
Cook County+29%
Illinois+27%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Typical home value
+31%
+32%
+35%
+53%
Typical rent
+23%
+28%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+20%
+29%
+27%
+29%
The typical home value in Oak Forest rose 31% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Cook County (32%).
The typical rent in Oak Forest rose 23% over the same time; in Cook County, it rose 28%.
The typical household income in Oak Forest rose 20%: less than home values (+31%) and rent (+23%).
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Oak Forest and its comparisons
Measure
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
4.5%
5.0%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.1%
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
3.3%
2.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.58
2.43
2.46
2.53
Drive alone
77%
55%
66%
69%
Carpool
5%
8%
8%
9%
Public transit
6%
12%
6%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
5%
3%
3%
Work from home
11%
19%
16%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Households in Oak Forest are bigger: 2.58 people on average; in Cook County, 2.43.
To get to work, 77% of workers in Oak Forest drive alone; in Cook County, 55%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Oak Forest?
A typical home is tight for the typical income
We start with a typical home in Oak Forest, worth $255,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in Oak Forest, which is $91,990 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $105,618 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cook County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Oak Forest. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,929 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,464
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$250,479
Total interest
$360,381
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,308 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,146 a month
Tight
$2,146 to $2,760 a month
Your payment · 32%
Hard
more than $2,760 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Oak Forest ($91,990 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,697
Property tax
$549
Home insurance
$106
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$113
You need at least $8,929 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,464; principal and interest $1,697.
The city and its county
Oak Forest and Cook County
Oak Forest is in Cook County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Oak Forest
Map of Cook County, Illinois, with Oak Forest marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Oak Forest
Cook County
Other cities with a page
Oak Forest's own numbers
Typical home value
$255,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,328
Typical yearly household income
$91,990
Households that own their home
82%
Effective property tax rate
2.58%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cook County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,011
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cook County.
A typical home in Oak Forest is worth $255,100: 21% below the county and 3% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Oak Forest ($91,990 a year), a typical home costs 2.8 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Oak Forest2.8 years
Cook3.9 years
Illinois3.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cook County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cook County rose 61% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cook County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.9% +3.9% 2016
2017: +3.2% +3.2% 2017
2018: +2.5% +2.5% 2018
2019: +2.7% +2.7% 2019
2020: +0.9% +0.9% 2020
2021: +7.2% +7.2% 2021
2022: +11.3% +11.3% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +6.4% +6.4% 2024
2025: +5.5% +5.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cook County, Illinois and the United States
Period
County
Illinois
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.5%
+5.7%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+47%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+61%
+65%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Oak Forest next to Cook County, Illinois and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Oak Forest$255,100
Cook$324,500
Illinois$263,300
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Oak Forest$1,328
Cook$1,435
Illinois$1,274
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Oak Forest$91,990
Cook$83,498
Illinois$83,390
United States$80,734
See the full table
Oak Forest next to Cook County and Illinois
Measure
Oak Forest
Cook County
Illinois
U.S.
Typical home value
$255,100 ▼21% below the county
$324,500
$263,300
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,328 ▼7% below the county
$1,435
$1,274
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$91,990 ▲10% above the county
$83,498
$83,390
$80,734
Households that own their home
82% ▲25 points above the county
58%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$6,589 ▲6% above the county
$6,191
$5,298
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
2.58% ▲0.67 points above the county
1.91%
2.01%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▼3 points below the county
49%
48%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cook County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Oak Forest
For a typical $255,100 home in Oak Forest, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Oak Forest's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,464a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,929
Cash to close
$16,582
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $113
Conventional, 5% down$2,418a month
Down payment
$12,755
Cash to close
$20,408
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $121
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,037a month
Down payment
$51,020
Cash to close
$58,673
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,273a month
Down payment
$38,265
Cash to close
$45,918
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Oak Forest
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,464
$8,929
$250,480
7.18%
FHA MIP · $113
$16,582
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,418
$12,755
$242,345
7.18%
PMI · $121
$20,408
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,037
$51,020
$204,080
7.18%
None
$58,673
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,273
$38,265
$216,835
8.18%
None
$45,918
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Oak Forest is $1,328 a month: 7% below the county. In Oak Forest, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cook County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,011 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $38.67 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Cook County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,678
$32.27
$67,120
1 bedroom
$1,780
$34.23
$71,200
2 bedrooms
$2,011
$38.67
$80,440
3 bedrooms
$2,586
$49.73
$103,440
4 bedrooms
$2,954
$56.81
$118,160
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Oak Forest
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Oak Forest is in ZIP code 60452.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,820: $191 less than the fair market rent for Cook County ($2,011).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Oak Forest, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
60452
$1,520
$1,610
$1,820
$2,340
$2,670
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
60452 $1,820$2,340
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Oak Forest when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 42 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cook County; 19 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Oak Forest or Cook County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Oak Forest the same as in the rest of the state.
IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois.Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Oak Forest or Cook County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Oak Forest and all of Cook County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Oak Forest?
The typical home value in Oak Forest is $255,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cook County it is $324,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Oak Forest?
Typical rent in Oak Forest is $1,328 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cook County is $2,011.
What is the FHA loan limit in Oak Forest?
Oak Forest uses the FHA limit for all of Cook County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Oak Forest?
The typical homeowner in Oak Forest pays $6,589 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.58% of the home’s value; in Cook County, the rate is 1.91%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Oak Forest?
There are 42 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cook County. 19 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
