Living in Lake Forest, CA
Suburb in California
Lake Forest is a suburb in California, home to about 86,000 people, with 6.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Lake Forest a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 14 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Safe: violent crime is 0.2× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Big job market: about 6.3 million people live within 31 mi
- Great outdoors: hills or mountains nearby
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $1.08M, and rent is $4,390 a month
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.64% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Lake Forest ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Lake Forest: common questions
What is the cost of living in Lake Forest?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $1.08M, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,390 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 114, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Lake Forest?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.64% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Lake Forest safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.2× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest is warm all year: winter days average around 69°F and summer days around 87°F.
Does Lake Forest get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.25 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Lake Forest?
The nearest major airport is SNA, about 11 mi away.
How Lake Forest scores
Each bar compares Lake Forest with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Lake Forest right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.