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Lake Forest, IL
Full City Profile · Illinois · Lake County County
3.9
/5.0
B+
Good
19,190
Population
1,116/sq mi density
$228,120
Median Income
$110,436 per capita
$909,800
Home Value
$1,150,871 Zillow
$2,120
Median Rent
30.2% income on rent
50°F
Avg Temperature
260 sunny days/yr
41
Violent Crime/100K
629 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$228,120 median income, 1.2% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$909,800 home value, $2,120/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
41 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
80.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Lake Forest experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 39.5 inches. The area receives 33.6 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Temperature
24°F Jan (-4°C)
73°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 49.6°F |
| 8% below US avg | |
| January Average | 24°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 73°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 260 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 682 ft (208 m) |
| Area | 17.2 sq mi (44.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,116/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 42.2354°N, 87.8573°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lake County County |
| Nearest Airport | Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) 18 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0480 ppm |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 14.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 78.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very High |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate |
| Strong Wind | Very High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Very High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1954 | MICHIGAN CITY, IN (LAKE MICHIGAN) | Avalanche | 3.0 m | 7 | 100 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F (-4°C) | 1.7 in | Coldest |
| February | 26°F (-3°C) | 1.3 in | Driest |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 2.5 in | |
| April | 47°F (8°C) | 3.5 in | |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 3.4 in | |
| June | 67°F (20°C) | 3.7 in | |
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 3.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 52°F (11°C) | 2.4 in | |
| November | 39°F (4°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 2.2 in |
Lake Forest has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 24°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 34.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (1.3").