© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lake Forest.
About
Life in Lake Forest
Lake Forest feels like a carefully planned suburb where you're paying for both stability and organization — think master-planned communities with neighborhood associations managing even the lakes. The median home price around $937,000 and median rent at $2,672 put it solidly in the affluent Orange County tier, so this works best if you have real household income to match. The job market is decent with some corporate headquarters around, but most residents likely commute; the average is 25 minutes, though that can stretch depending on where you're heading.
Lake Forest at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Foreign-Born
27.4%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lake Forest: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Forest, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (20.8%), and 16.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.3%
of residents
65 and Older
14.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.9%
of households
Married Couples
61.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.81
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 31% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Forest
In Lake Forest, rent runs 31% above the CA average, and home values are 28% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,812
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,172,296 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Lake Forest and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake Forest is 1.5 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lake Forest Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute25.5 min avg
How Lake Forest residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Forest, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 46 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 50% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Forest runs 50% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
164.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
700.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Forest Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Lake Forest, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
150 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Lake Forest is about 3% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Lake Forest, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Lake Forest is about 3% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Forest has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
62
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
50
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 49°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 71°F | 48°F | 3.47" |
| Mar | 73°F | 50°F | 1.70" |
| Apr | 76°F | 52°F | 0.85" |
| May | 79°F | 56°F | 0.34" |
| Jun | 83°F | 59°F | 0.04" |
| Jul | 88°F | 62°F | 0.09" |
| Aug | 90°F | 62°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 89°F | 62°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 84°F | 58°F | 0.62" |
| Nov | 76°F | 53°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 68°F | 48°F | 2.34" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Forest
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Forest's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Memorialcare Saddleback Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Laguna Hills
Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Acute Care Hospitals · 5.9 mi away · Irvine
Providence Mission Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Mission Viejo
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education24.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Forest
Lake Forest's student/teacher ratio is 24.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 50.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Forest (within 15 miles)
University of California-Irvine
9.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,197 students · in-state tuition $16,235 · 88% graduate · median earnings $83,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,684 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 29% graduate · median earnings $51,222 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,579 students · in-state tuition $1,160 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,421 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,478 students · in-state tuition $67,894 · 82% graduate · median earnings $80,694 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts Global
6.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,491 students · in-state tuition $12,560 · 56% graduate · median earnings $68,286 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Forest
Lake Forest has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
30 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
70 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Forest
El Toro Branch Library
24672 Raymond Way, Lake Forest
Foothill Ranch Branch Library
27002 Cabriole, Foothill Ranch
Cities Near Lake Forest
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Forest?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Forest FAQ
Is Lake Forest, California affordable?⌄
Lake Forest's median rent is $2,672/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $135,175/year. Median home value is $937,000.
Is Lake Forest, California safe?⌄
Lake Forest's violent crime rate was 165 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 701 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Forest, California?⌄
Lake Forest has an unemployment rate of 4.0%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Forest, California?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Forest is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,672/month and median household income is $135,175/year. The median home value is $937,000. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Forest, California?⌄
The average commute in Lake Forest is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from