Known for being the “Largest Village In The World,” Oak Park, IL is a family-friendly community that is a great place to live, perfect for settling down and setting up roots.
In 1835 the village was first settled, and Oak Park was incorporated in 1902 after separating from Cicero (a suburb of Chicago).
There are a lot of oak trees, so the village was originally named Oak Ridge, but when the post office was named Oak Park, the railway and eventually the entire area changed its name, so it all matched.
Oak Park is a beautiful place and is ideal for nature lovers because of the endless outdoor activities you can do.
Where Is Oak Park?
The next big city that Oak Park is near would be Chicago. It is 9.2 miles from Oak Park to Chicago, IL.
Oak Park is located west of Chicago and continues to hold onto its history and embrace what makes its village unique. The entire village is located on the shore of ancient Lake Chicago, and is close to Cicero, Elmwood Park, Maywood, Berwyn and North Riverside.
You don’t need to have a car to get around Oak Park. There are plenty of public transportation options such as the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the Metra train, PACE, and CTA bus lines.
Oak Park Population & Demographics
The population of Oak Park is 53,224, and it has increased by 1,366 residents since the 2010 census. The population density in Oak Park is 11,086 people per square mile, and it’s been known also as “the largest village in the world.”
Here are two of the most notable people in Oak Park:
Betty White: Born in Oak Park, Betty White is known as the “First Lady of Television,” and is best known for her roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.
Johnny Galecki: While Johnny was originally born in Belgium, he and his family moved to Oak Park when he was younger and he grew up there. Johnny is best known for his role in Roseanne and The Big Bang Theory.
For the demographics of Oak Park, here is a breakdown:
- 66.03% White, 18.1% African American, 4.63% Hispanic, 4.92% Asian, 6.32% Biracial
- Gender Breakdown: 53.3% female and 46.7% male
- 8.9% Foreign-Born Population
- Median Age: 41 years old
- Educational Attainment: 96.8 percent of residents have graduated high school, and 70.8% of them have achieved a bachelor’s degree
The Oak Park IL median household income is $96,945 which is quite high for the state of IL. Oak Park is a wealthy area.
While the total crime rate in Oak Park is 35.1% higher than the national average, the majority of the crimes are property crimes. And violent crimes are 18.7% lower than the national average. Yes, the crime rate might be high, but there are still plenty of safe neighborhoods in Oak Park.
The 109 officers of the Oak Park Police Department help to serve and protect this family-friendly community.
Cost of Living in Oak Park
The cost of living in Oak Park Illinois is approximately 25% higher than the national average.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four would need an annual household income of $89,187 to live comfortably. Click here to check out the calculator yourself.
Typical Oak Park Living Expenses (Numbeo):
- Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant: $20.00
- Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range): $13.00
- Milk (regular, 1 gallon): $4.50
- Bread (1 loaf): $2.00
- Oranges (1 lb): $1.75
- Apples (1 lb): $2.00
- Beef Round (1 lb): $4.00
- Local Cheese (1 lb): $5.00
- Average Cost of Gasoline per gallon: $4.80
- Fitness Club (Per Month, 1 Adult): $200.00
- Average Oak Park utilities per month: $229
Oak Park’s median home price is $455,000. There is a large selection of beautiful homes to choose from–ranging from Townhomes, Condos, and Single-Family houses, while the majority of the home designs are a mixture of Historical, Traditional, and Contemporary. The market is competitive, so it’s not uncommon for multiple offers given during the selling process. Check out some of these Oak Park, IL, homes for sale.
Due to the relatively affordable home prices, many residents choose to purchase a place to live, but if you’re interested in the available renting options, there are plenty. The average cost of rent in Oak Park is between $915 and $2,443+ depending on the location and the number of bedrooms needed.
Oak Park Neighborhoods | Where to Live in Oak Park
Here are a couple of the best neighborhoods to consider moving to in Oak Park:
Rehm Park | Urban Lifestyle
Rehm Park is a wealthy neighborhood known for being a go-to area for young professionals and college students. Even though it’s known for being a space for young adults and college students, it’s also a family-friendly and safe area to settle down in, consider Rehm Park.
Ridgeland Oak Park Historic District | Part Of The National Register Of Historic Places
Since 1983, Ridgeland has been part of the historic district in Oak Park, IL. There are 1,558 buildings spread over 539 acres; it has plenty of well-known structures throughout this neighborhood, such as: George W. Smith House and the Unity Temple.
Ridgeland Oak Park Historic District, 500-548 Pleasant St, Oak Park, IL 60302
Oak Park Weather & Climate
During the spring and summer months, the weather is hot, humid, and wet with the average temperature consistently being over 78 degrees.
When it comes to the fall and winter months, the weather can get cold, snowy, and windy. The average temperature during the fall is in the 60’s, and the average temperature during the winter is in the 30s.
On average, Oak Park gets 30.3 inches of rain and 11.7 inches of snow.
Make sure to pack your rain boots, umbrellas, winter jackets, beanies, high-quality gloves, shorts, and tank tops to prepare for the different seasons.
When it comes to tornadoes, Oak Park is at the same risk as the rest of the state of Illinois, which is higher than the national average.
The best time to visit Oak Park, IL, is between June and September.
Things to Do in Oak Park
While Oak Park doesn’t have a shopping mall, there are plenty of mall choices to choose from nearby. Some of the most popular include: Forest Park Plaza, Winston Plaza, River Forest Town Center, and North Riverside Park Mall.
There are a large variety of individual storefronts in Oak Park that you can choose from, though. Here are a few of the top places: CarefulPeach Boutique, Chic Chick’s Boutique, Target, and Needful Things.
Wonder Works Children’s Museum | Imagination. Creativity. Learning
With 6,400 square footage where kids can play and explore different interactive exhibits, Wonder Works is on a mission to create a space where kids can be curious and creative through play-based learning. This Oak Park IL place is perfect for people with young kids.
Wonder Works Children’s Museum 6445 W North Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-4815
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Oak Park Conservatory | 50,000 Annual Visitors
The Oak Park Conservatory is free to the public, and has different types of showrooms ranging from: Mediterranean, Tropical, and Desert. This conservatory is one of the top three historical sites throughout Oak Park, and is known as a gem within this community.
Oak Park Conservatory 615 Garfield St, Oak Park, IL 60304 (708) 725-2400
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Scoville Park | AED Equipped
Scoville Park is a historic property that’s a great place to spend the day playing on the playground or practicing your swing on the tennis court. This park is also now equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Scoville Park 800 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 725-2000
Additional Places To Visit In Oak Park
- Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio 951 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Taylor Park 400 Division St Oak Park, IL 60160, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Ridgeland Common Park Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum 339 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Barrie Park 1011 S Lombard Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304
- Austin Gardens 167 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Oak Park has 17 community parks, along with ice skating rinks and recreation centers. You can also check out the upcoming Oak Park events calendar for upcoming events in the area.
Oak Park Restaurants
Food is what brings people together and in Oak Park you have many tasty choices. Here are some of the best food options in Oak Park, IL.
Maya Del Sol | Latin Infused Cuisine
Since 2007, Maya Del Sol has been providing Latin American cuisine with bold and delicious flavors from Mexico, Central, and South America. They work with fresh ingredients, and their specials are based on the season.
Maya Del Sol 144 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 358-9800
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II Vicolo Trattoria | Traditional Neapolitan Cuisine
As an authentic Italian Oak Park restaurant, you will receive everything from homemade pasta, pizza, fresh seafood, and delicious meat. This restaurant is a family-friendly option that has something available for everyone.
II Vicolo Trattoria 116 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 386-5801
Rustico | Rated Best Restaurant In Oak Park
Rustico is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with delicious and authentic food and a full bar. And it was named the best restaurant by Restaurant Guru for 2021.
Rustico 722 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 (708) 948-7855
Additional Restaurants In Oak Park
- Citrine Cafe 100 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
- The Little Gem Cafe 189 N Marion St, Oak Park, IL 60301
- Cucina Paradiso 814 North Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60301
- Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant 950 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301
- Papaspiro 728 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301
- Hemmingway’s Bistro 211 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
- Poor Phil’s Bar & Grill 139 S Marion St, Oak Park, IL 60302
- George’s Family Restaurant 145 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Jobs in Oak Park
Oak Park has a strong economy and has an unemployment rate of 5.3% which is below the national average of 6.0%.
The top three employers in Oak Park, Illinois, are West Suburban Medical Center, PortionPac, and Citizens Rx.
The average hourly rate in Oak Park is 19.42 per hour, and the median salary is $66,000 per year according to Payscale.
If you’re looking for a new job in Oak Park, there are over 165K jobs within a 25 miles radius on Indeed, but if you’re interested in a Cook County career, here are some available City of Oak Park jobs.
Oak Park Schools
There are two school districts in Oak Park: Elementary School District 97 (K-8) and High School District 200. Here are a few school options in Oak Park:
If you are looking to attend college, here are some nearby universities: DeVry University Illinois, North Park University, Elmhurst College, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
If you want to check out a book, movie, listen to an audio book, or read the local newspaper, you can find it all at the Oak Park Public Library.
Oak Park Statistics & Information
- Oak Park Square Miles: 4.70
- Oak Park County: Cook
- Oak Park Zip Codes: 60301- 60304
- Oak Park Area Code: (708)
- Oak Park Time Zone: Central Daylight Savings Time (CDT), and Central Standard Time (CST)
- The Closest Airport: The closest airport to Oak Park is Chicago Midway International Airport which is 8.8 miles away
- Oak Park Elevation: 620 feet above sea level
Map of Oak Park, IL
To help you find more amenities, attractions, restaurants, and fun things to do in Oak Park, IL check out this map!
Moving to Oak Park, IL
Are you thinking about relocating to Oak Park, IL? It’s a diverse and family-friendly community that is perfect for settling down. Our Oak Park movers have your back, and we will work hard to make this transition seamless. With our affordable rates and great Google Reviews, our team is the #1 choice for all your moving needs. Call us at (800) 747-4100 for a free quote!
