Park Forest, IL Demographics

A map of Park Forest's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	14,254	15,022	67.4%	69.3%
White	4,176	3,828	19.7%	17.7%
Hispanic	2,046	1,682	9.7%	7.8%
Multiracial	561	840	2.7%	3.9%
Asian	73	150	0.3%	0.7%
Native American/Other	46	165	0.2%	0.8%

Park Forest, Illinois has an estimated population of 21,156, a slight decrease from the 21,687 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 67.4% Black, 19.7% White, 9.7% Hispanic, 2.7% Multiracial, 0.3% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Park Forest, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Park Forest has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Park Forest, that probability was 48.1% in 2020 and 49.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Park Forest is ranked the 114th most populous place in Illinois, out of 1,461 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Park Forest was ranked the 111th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Park Forest's White Population

4,176 residents of Park Forest, or 19.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Park Forest is significantly lower than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Park Forest ranks 1424th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's White population has grown by an estimated 9.1%. White residents' share of Park Forest's population has increased from 17.7% to 19.7%.

Park Forest is more White than neighboring Olympia Fields (17.1% White), University Park (8.4% White), and Richton Park (8.8% White). Park Forest is less White than neighboring South Chicago Heights (27.9% White), and Flossmoor (30.1% White).

Park Forest's Black Population

14,254 residents of Park Forest, or 67.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Park Forest is significantly higher than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Park Forest ranks 30th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's Black population has declined by an estimated 5.1%. Black residents' share of Park Forest's population has decreased from 69.3% to 67.4%.

Park Forest is more Black than neighboring South Chicago Heights (31.8% Black), and Flossmoor (59.5% Black). Park Forest is less Black than neighboring Olympia Fields (75.7% Black), University Park (81.8% Black), and Richton Park (87.6% Black).

Park Forest's Asian Population

73 residents of Park Forest, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Park Forest is lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Park Forest ranks 501st statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's Asian population has declined by an estimated 51.3%. Asian residents' share of Park Forest's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Park Forest is more Asian than neighboring University Park (0.1% Asian). Park Forest is less Asian than neighboring Olympia Fields (1.9% Asian), South Chicago Heights (0.4% Asian), Richton Park (0.4% Asian), and Flossmoor (1.6% Asian).

Park Forest's Hispanic Population

2,046 residents of Park Forest, or 9.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Park Forest is lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Park Forest ranks 340th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 21.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Park Forest's population has increased from 7.8% to 9.7%.

Park Forest is more Hispanic than neighboring Olympia Fields (0.8% Hispanic), University Park (5.9% Hispanic), Richton Park (1.2% Hispanic), and Flossmoor (4.9% Hispanic). Park Forest is less Hispanic than neighboring South Chicago Heights (39.2% Hispanic).

Park Forest's Native American/Other Population

46 residents of Park Forest, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Park Forest is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Park Forest ranks 233rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 72.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Park Forest's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.2%.

Park Forest is more Native American/Other than neighboring Olympia Fields (0% Native American/Other), University Park (0% Native American/Other), South Chicago Heights (0% Native American/Other), and Flossmoor (0.1% Native American/Other). Park Forest is less Native American/Other than neighboring Richton Park (1% Native American/Other).

Park Forest's Multiracial Population

561 residents of Park Forest, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Park Forest is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Park Forest ranks 572nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Park Forest's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 33.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Park Forest's population has decreased from 3.9% to 2.7%.

Park Forest is more Multiracial than neighboring South Chicago Heights (0.5% Multiracial), and Richton Park (1% Multiracial). Park Forest is less Multiracial than neighboring Olympia Fields (4.6% Multiracial), University Park (3.9% Multiracial), and Flossmoor (3.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.