At a Glance
Median Income
$131,378
$58,506 per capita
Home Value
$876,300
Zillow: $1,182,053
Median Rent
$2,616/mo
33.5% of income on rent
Violent Crime
76/100K
789/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
50.1%
93.9% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
5.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
23.1%
8.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
62°F
329 sunny days/yr
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 3.2% (11% below 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 $1,182,053. 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 76 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 80% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 789/100K. The murder rate is 1.2/100K.
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 62°F (17°C).
Winters average 52°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 329 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 34.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Data Overview
People
Population85,846
Median Age40.4 yrs
Density5,137/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.7%
Economy
A+
Median Income$131,378
Per Capita$58,506
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty5.7%
County GDP$351,753M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,565
Housing
C+
Home Value$876,300
Rent$2,616
Ownership70.7%
Zillow$1,182,053
Housing Units31,857
Rent Burden33.5%
Crime
F
Violent76/100K
Property789/100K
Murder1.2/100K
Assault51/100K
Burglary125/100K
Health
Obesity23.1%
Diabetes8.9%
Smoking8.3%
Heart Disease4.5%
Premature Death5,325/100K
Climate
Avg Temp62°F
Sunny Days329/yr
Rain34.4 in/yr
AQI48 (Good)
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
Broadband96.8%
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.
8.4% of the population has a disability.
13.6% 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.
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