Moving to Richton Park, Illinois

by btobers · Published January 13, 2021 · Updated November 18, 2024

Richton Park, Illinois is a small village located in Cook County. The population of Richton Park is 12,478 according to the 2020 census. The village covers 4.8 square miles of land and is bordered by Matteson, Park Forest, Sauk Village, and University Park. Richton Park has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.

Richton Park was incorporated in 1949 and was named after the Rich family who owned much of the land in the area at the time. The village is governed by a village president and six trustees elected at-large for four year terms.

The economy of Richton Park is largely based on retail services with many stores located along Sauk Trail Road. There are also several manufacturing companies located nearby in neighboring towns such as Chicago Heights and Matteson that employ local residents.

Richton Park contains several schools including two public elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and one private school. These institutions are part of the Rich Township High School District 227 which serves much of the south suburbs of Chicago including Olympia Fields, Matteson, University Park, Country Club Hills, and Flossmoor among other townships.

Notable landmarks in Richton Park include Miller Woods Nature Preserve which offers hiking trails through its 200 acres of forested wetlands; Freedom Hall which hosts concerts and other events; Lakewood Falls Golf Course; Winnebago Pool Aquatic Center; and many other recreational facilities such as parks and playgrounds throughout the village.

Population: 12,533. Estimated population in July 2024: 12,998 (+3.7% change)
Males: 5,747 (45.9%), Females: 6,786 (54.1%)

Cook County

Zip code: 60471

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.3 years
Median household income: $48,299
Median house value: $125,700

Population by Race

Races in Richton Park:

Black (59.1%)
White Non-Hispanic (33.8%)
Hispanic (3.9%)
Two or more races (2.1%)
Other race (1.3%)
American Indian (0.8%)
Filipino (0.6%)

Ancestries: German (10.5%), Irish (7.6%), Polish (4.8%), English (4.7%), Italian (3.3%), United States (1.3%).

Elevation: 710 feet

Land area: 3.4 square miles

Map of Richton Park, IL

Population by Education

Richton Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, located approximately 25 miles south of Chicago. The population of Richton Park is 12,959 as of the 2020 census. The median household income is $67,737 and the median home value is $204,400. The cost of living in Richton Park is slightly higher than the national average and moderately higher than the state average. Housing costs are the most significant factor driving up living costs in Richton Park. Home prices have risen steadily over the past few years due to an influx of new residents and businesses to the area. Renters can expect to pay slightly more than state and national averages for comparable rentals. Groceries and healthcare also tend to be more expensive than other areas in Illinois but are still considered reasonable compared to other parts of the country. Utility bills are on par with national averages while transportation costs remain below average due to its close proximity to Chicago’s public transit system and numerous highways that make commuting a breeze.

For population 25 years and over in Richton Park

High school or higher: 90.4%
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.9%
Unemployed: 6.3%
Mean travel time to work: 40.6 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Richton Park village

Never married: 29.4%
Now married: 48.0%
Separated: 2.5%
Widowed: 5.8%
Divorced: 14.3%

4.6% Foreign born (1.9% Asia, 1.1% Latin America, 0.8% Europe, 0.6% Africa).

Population change in the 1990s: +2,025 (+19.3%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Richton Park:

ST JAMES HOSP & HLTH CTR-OLYMPIA FLDS (about 4 miles; OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL)
SOUTH SUBURBAN HOSPITAL (about 8 miles; HAZEL CREST, IL)
TINLEY PK MENTAL HEALTH CTR (about 9 miles; TINLEY PARK, IL)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Richton Park:

CHICAGO MIDWAY INTL (about 21 miles; CHICAGO, IL; Abbreviation: MDW)
GARY/CHICAGO (about 24 miles; GARY, IN; Abbreviation: GYY)
CHICAGO O’HARE INTL (about 36 miles; CHICAGO, IL; Abbreviation: ORD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Richton Park:

TINLEY PARK HELISTOP (about 7 miles; CHICAGO/TINLEY PARK, IL; Abbreviation: TF8)
FRANKFORT (about 8 miles; FRANKFORT, IL; Abbreviation: C18)
SANGER (about 9 miles; MONEE, IL; Abbreviation: C56)

Amtrak stations near Richton Park:

7 miles: HOMEWOOD (181 1ST ST. & PARK AVE.). Services: ticket office, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, public transit connection.
15 miles: DYER (SHEFFIELD RD.). Services: enclosed waiting area, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Richton Park:

GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 3 miles; UNIVERSITY PARK, IL; Full-time enrollment: 3,191)
PRAIRIE STATE COLLEGE (about 9 miles; CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,523)
SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE (about 12 miles; SOUTH HOLLAND, IL; Full-time enrollment: 3,599)
SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY (about 15 miles; CHICAGO, IL; Full-time enrollment: 3,161)
CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY (about 17 miles; CHICAGO, IL; Full-time enrollment: 4,836)
CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO-OLIVE-HARVEY COLLEGE (about 17 miles; CHICAGO, IL; Full-time enrollment: 4,004)
MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 17 miles; PALOS HILLS, IL; Full-time enrollment: 7,610)

Public high school in Richton Park:

RICH SOUTH CAMPUS HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,066; Location: 5000 SAUK TRL; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Richton Park:

NEIL ARMSTRONG ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 511; Location: 5030 IMPERIAL DR; Grades: PK – 08)
SAUK ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 400; Location: 4435 S CHURCHILL DR; Grades: 03 – 05)

Private primary/middle school in Richton Park:

SOUTH SUBURBAN S D A SCHOOL (Students: 41; Location: 22700 RICHTON SQUARE RD; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Richton Park:

RICHTON PARK P.L.D. (Operating income: $703,259; Location: 4045 SAUK TRAIL; 35,477 books; 3,087 audio materials; 1,169 video materials; 178 serial subscriptions)