Oak Forest is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The city is out 24 miles (39 km) south-southwest of downtown Chicago in Bremen Township. Per the 2020 census, the population was 27,478.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Oak Forest ranks

All →

#76Lowest obesity in IL #90Most walkable in IL #54Safest in IL All IL rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code60452

Area code708

Living in Oak Forest

Housing in Oak Forest

$304K▲ 6.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Oak Forest home is worth about $304,000, up 6.1% in a year, close to the Illinois typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market41

Sale-to-list100.8%

Sold in May34

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Oak Forest

Safety Grade A

Oak Forest reports less crime per resident than 86% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Oak Forest 0.3

Illinois 2.6

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Oak Forest 3.4

Illinois 15.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Oak Forest

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Oak Forest for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Chicago (22%), Tinley Park (4%) and Orland Park (4%). Half commute less than 15 miles.

Chicago

22%

Tinley Park

Orland Park

Oak Lawn

4%Work in townlive and work in Oak Forest 15 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 5,962Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Oak Forest →

Health in Oak Forest

Health Grade A

Healthier than 85% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Illinois

11better than IL·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▲ 7 close Habits 1▲ 1▼ 2 close Care 1▲ 6 close Mind 1▲ 4 close Everyday needs 3▲ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

9.7%Fewer adults with diabetesIL 11.7% · better 6.6%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offIL 7.8% · better 20.4%More binge drinkersIL 17.8% · worse

Care nearby

Palos Community HospitalPalos Heights · 4.3 mi · ER

Hazel Crest Community Health CenterHazel Crest · 4.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Oak Forest · CMS · HRSAHealth in Oak Forest →

Natural hazards in Oak Forest

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 48% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

77Does Oak Forest flood?paid flood claims since 1978 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Oak Forest MapOak Forest vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Oak Forest →

Climate in Oak Forest

Full climate →

Oak Forest has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 28 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

35° / 20°Winter

60° / 39°Spring

82° / 62°Summer

63° / 43°Fall