River Forest, IL · standard
ZIP Code 60305
Cook County, Illinois - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,172
- 1,742/sq mi High-density area
- $146,786
- Median income Above-median income area
- $687,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 72.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
River Forest pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 4%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,742
- people per sq mi
- 88%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 60305 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 60305 (River Forest, IL) rose +8.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 177.1 in 2023 to 192.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 60305 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, home to 11,172 residents across 6.4 square miles, a density of 1,742 people per square mile, in the Chicago time zone.
ZIP 60305 skews affluent, with a median household income of $146,786 (83% above the average Illinois ZIP), while per-capita income is $91,438. The poverty rate is 2.7%, with unemployment at 8.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $687,300 (258% above the average Illinois ZIP), while 87.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,554.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 72.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40, and the average commute is 33 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cook County, so 60305 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 60305
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in River Forest, IL
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 60305.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
67 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
62 establishments
- Retail trade 25
Retail trade
25 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 25
Real estate and rental and leasing
25 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 24
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 60305, River Forest, IL · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
11,172
Population
6.4
Area (sq mi)
1,742
People / sq mi
Chicago
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 60305?
40.0
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
12.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$146,786
Median Household Income
+83% vs state ZIP avg
$91,438
Per Capita Income
2.7%
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Unemployment Rate
32.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 60305 ranks among Illinois ZIPs
River Forest, IL household income vs. every Illinois ZIP code
Median household income among 1,334 reporting Illinois ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$146,786 Top 3% higher than 97% of 1,334 Illinois ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Illinois ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
4,680housing units
4,680
Total Housing Units
4,460
Occupied Units
220
Vacant Units
2.47
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$687,300
Median Home Value
+258% vs state ZIP avg
$1,554
Median Rent
1946
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+8.8%
YoY Change (2024)
193
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+93%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 60305 have increased 8.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +93% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -2.6% | 148 |
| 2021 | +5.7% | 156 |
| 2022 | +4.6% | 163 |
| 2023 | +8.5% | 177 |
| 2024 | +8.8% | 193 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 307 business establishments in ZIP 60305, employing approximately 4,595 people with a combined annual payroll of $165,718,000.
307
Businesses
4,595
Employees
$165.7M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 67 | 21.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 62 | 20.2% |
| Retail trade | 25 | 8.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 25 | 8.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 7.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 23 | 7.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 16 | 5.2% |
| Construction | 15 | 4.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 14 | 4.6% |
| Educational services | 14 | 4.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 1.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 1.3% |
| Information | 3 | 1.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 60305 vs 60301 →
ZIP 60305 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60707
Elmwood Park (60707)
42,920 residents
- 60302
Oak Park (60302)
32,108 residents
- 60160
Melrose Park (60160)
25,432 residents
- 60153
Maywood (60153)
24,106 residents
- 60304
Oak Park (60304)
17,231 residents
- 60546 15,668
Riverside (60546)
15,668 residents
- 60130 14,167
Forest Park (60130)
14,167 residents
- 60305 11,172
River Forest (60305)
11,172 residents
- 60171 10,246
River Grove (60171)
10,246 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 60305 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 60305 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 60305
River Forest (60305)
$146,786 median income
- 60304
Oak Park (60304)
$136,178 median income
- 60546
Riverside (60546)
$113,533 median income
- 60302
Oak Park (60302)
$100,680 median income
- 60301
Oak Park (60301)
$99,167 median income
- 60707
Elmwood Park (60707)
$84,799 median income
- 60130
Forest Park (60130)
$77,221 median income
- 60171
River Grove (60171)
$69,858 median income
- 60153
Maywood (60153)
$68,815 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 60305 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60301 | Oak Park, IL | 2,539 | 1.1 mi |
| 60302 | Oak Park, IL | 32,108 | 1.5 mi |
| 60130 | Forest Park, IL | 14,167 | 2.0 mi |
| 60707 | Elmwood Park, IL | 42,920 | 2.0 mi |
| 60153 | Maywood, IL | 24,106 | 1.6 mi |
| 60171 | River Grove, IL | 10,246 | 2.3 mi |
| 60160 | Melrose Park, IL | 25,432 | 2.2 mi |
| 60304 | Oak Park, IL | 17,231 | 2.2 mi |
| 60141 | Hines, IL | 224 | 2.7 mi |
| 60546 | Riverside, IL | 15,668 | 3.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 60305, both outside IL so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (11,172 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cook County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 60305 in?
ZIP code 60305 (River Forest) is located in Cook County, Illinois. Cook County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cook-il.
What is the population of ZIP code 60305?
ZIP code 60305 in River Forest, IL has a population of 11,172 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 60305?
The median household income in ZIP 60305 is $146,786, which is 92% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 60305?
The median home value in ZIP 60305 is $687,300, which is 147% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 60305?
The largest racial group in ZIP 60305 is White at 78.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 60305?
ZIP code 60305 has 307 business establishments employing approximately 4,595 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 60305?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 60305 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (67), Health care and social assistance (62), Retail trade (25). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 60305?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 60305 increased by 8.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 93%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 60305?
In ZIP code 60305, 80.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 72.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 60305?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 60305 is 32.5 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 60305?
In ZIP code 60305, approximately 87.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 60305?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 60305 is 2.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 60305's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 60305 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where River Forest, IL ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.