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Naomi Mendoza moving

Moving to Lake Forest for work -advice?

Been meaning to ask this. With a population of 85,846, Lake Forest is a smaller city. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The food scene here is surprisingly good. Is this normal for Lake Forest? It's changing fast -some good, some not so much. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly.
17 upvotes

3 Replies

James Campbell
seconding this
39 upvotes
dallas_eliana
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.

Background: I'm a pharmacist, 51, moved here 7 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in East and Downtown, and traveled to most parts of the metro.

**What I love:**
1. Good schools in most areas
2. Decent public transit for the size
3. Good internet infrastructure
4. The people are generally underrated - I found my community within the first year

**What I don't love:**
1. Summers can be brutally hot
2. Far from beaches/mountains
3. The community vibe situation is established and doesn't seem to be improving

**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for couples. pretty good vibes, walkable.
- Downtown: More affordable, family-friendly.

**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.

**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Dallas, everything felt average. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are stable. Gas is growing. You can live comfortably on $80K-$70K here.

**Final verdict:**
Good luck with whatever you decide.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
29 upvotes
Noah D.
exactly what I was thinking
26 upvotes
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