At a Glance
Median Income
$131,378
$58,506 per capita
Home Value
$876,300
Zillow: $1,179,160
Median Rent
$2,616/mo
33.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
150/100K
839/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
50.1%
93.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.6%
5.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
23.1%
8.3% smoking rate
How Lake Forest Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Lake Forest's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Lake Forest a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Lake Forest residents earn a median household income of $131,378 , which is 75% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $58,506. The unemployment rate stands at 4.6% (28% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 148,394 business establishments, including 8,853 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Lake Forest is $876,300 , 211% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,179,160. Median rent is $2,616/month, with 33.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1984.
Safety & Crime
Lake Forest reports 150 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 60% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 839/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
50.1% of adults in Lake Forest hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(49% above the national average).
93.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Lake Forest has an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C).
Winters average 59°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 13.1 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 54.
Data Overview
People
Population85,846
Median Age40.4 yrs
Density5,137/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born27.3%
Veterans3.7%
Economy
A+
Median Income$131,378
Per Capita$58,506
Unemployment4.6%
Poverty5.7%
County GDP$351,753M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,565
Housing
C+
Home Value$876,300
Rent$2,616
Ownership70.7%
Zillow$1,179,160
Housing Units31,857
Rent Burden33.5%
Crime
F
Violent150/100K
Property839/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault112/100K
Burglary110/100K
Health
Obesity23.1%
Diabetes8.9%
Smoking8.3%
Heart Disease4.5%
Premature Death5,325/100K
Climate
Avg Temp67°F
Rain13.1 in/yr
AQI54 (Moderate)
Elevation627 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+50.1%
High School+93.9%
Graduate+16.5%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 47% / D 50%
Commute25 min
Broadband96.7%
Internet Speed153 Mbps
EV Stations29
Libraries67
Did You Know?
Lake Forest was founded in 1991.
The median home in Lake Forest was built in 1984.
21.7% work from home.
The nearest airport is John Wayne/Orange County (11 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.468 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
8.7% of the population has a disability.
27.3% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 153 Mbps.
There are 8,853 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 238 fatal vehicle crashes.
364 declared natural disasters on record.