Business Insights

Business Data

“Overall Grade: A+” - Niche.com

The "Wright" Location for Business

As a business community, Oak Park remains one of the Chicago region’s most desirable. The community’s attractiveness to business investment is enhanced by its location within the greater Chicago region. Oak Park has access to downtown Chicago via two CTA “L” lines that include seven transit stations, as well as a Metra commuter rail station that connects Oak Park to both Chicago and the western suburbs. The community is also easily accessible by vehicular traffic, notably with direct access via I-290, IL-43 (Harlem Avenue) and IL-64 (North Avenue).

Investment Drives Growth

Substantial investment in Oak Park by developers and business owners, bolstered by spending from residents and visitors alike, have helped generate significant growth in community-wide retail sales since the start of the decade. For the 2021 calendar year, Oak Park businesses conducted $576.3 million in retail sales. This has grown nearly 44% over the past four years, rising to $829.2 million in 2025.

Line graph titled "Oak Park - Annual Retail Sales" showing steady growth from approximately $560 million in 2021 to $650 million in 2024, followed by a sharp increase to around $830 million in 2025.

A Balanced, Diverse Economy

Oak Park is home to 1,697 UI-covered businesses, employing 14,939 workers. The Village offers a diverse and balanced economy led by strong employment in the Health Care, Education and Dining and Hospitality sectors. Major employers include Rush Oak Park Hospital, High School District 200, Elementary School District 97 and over 125 Village-wide restaurants, cafes, and eateries.

Pie chart titled "Private Sector Employment (by Industry)" showing Other as the largest segment (29.1%), followed by Health Care (27.8%), Education (16.0%), Dining & Hospitality (12.4%), Retail Trade (7.7%), and Professional (7.0%).

Sources:

  • Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) data
  • Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) data
  • Illinois Department of Revenues (IDOR) data
  • 2000 and 2010 Census, 2019-2023 American Community Survey five-year estimates

 

Resident Data

“Top 25 Best Suburbs in the U.S. for Relocation” - moveBuddha.com

 Resident Demographics

Total Population: 53,315
Total Households: 23,267
 Population Density: 11,472.5 per square mile (6th-highest in Illinois)
Median Household Income: $108,026
 Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 72.5% of residents (25+ years of age)

Rooted in Tradition, Progressing Toward the Future

The Village of Oak Park blends a rich history with exciting new development and investment. A short train ride from the Chicago Loop, Oak Park boasts the historic homes of literary giants Ernest Hemingway and Edgar Rice Burroughs, as well as that of Dr. Percy L. Julian who overcame racial barriers to become one of the nation’s foremost researchers and developers of pharmaceuticals. But Oak Park’s most famous residence may be that of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose home and studio welcomes 150,000 visitors annually. In fact, over 20 of the famed architect’s projects remain within the Village, many of which are accessible via guided tours.

The Head of its Class

Exceptional quality of life that makes Oak Park one of the best places in the country to reside, especially when it comes to education. In 2025, the Illinois State Board of Education named two Oak Park schools (Ascension Catholic School and St. Giles School) among the State’s 28 “Blue Ribbon” designees. In addition, U.S. News & World Report named Oak Park and River Forest High School one of the State’s Top 40 public high schools, while Fenwick High School was ranked as one of the Top 5 Catholic high schools in Illinois by Niche.

A Wealth of Amenities

Further exemplifying the community’s commitment to quality of life, the Park District of Oak Park offers 18 public parks, covering 84 acres and including seven neighborhood recreation centers. The Park District was also awarded the 2025 Gold Medal Grand Plaque Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), making it one of only seven recipients across the entire country to receive that organization’s premier accolade. The Oak Park Public Library is a multiple-time five-star designee from Library Journal, that publication’s highest honor and reserved for only the top 1% of libraries in the nation.

A Home for Everyone

Most importantly, Oak Park prides itself on being a welcoming community, with values committed to ensuring that residents and visitors from all different backgrounds have a place here. The Village Board’s vision statement for the community emphasizes a “strong sense of responsibility to embrace our historic past and support our thriving present as a diverse, welcoming, inclusive and integrated community.”

Pie chart titled "Oak Park - Racial & Ethnic Make-Up" showing White (Non-Hispanic) as the largest group at 61.2%, followed by Black (Non-Hispanic) at 19.3%, Hispanic or Latino at 8.5%, Other/Multiple Races at 5.7%, and Asian (Non-Hispanic) at 5.3%.

The "Wright" Place for You and Your Family

With such an incredible wealth of amenities, educational opportunities, diversity and a thriving business community, it’s no wonder that moveBuddha.com ranked Oak Park as one of the country’s “25 suburbs everyone wants to move to in 2025” and the only community in Illinois to make the list.

Sources:

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