© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lake Forest.
About
Life in Lake Forest
This is wealthy suburb living with substance behind it—not just a name on a map. The two Metra commuter rail stations connect you to Chicago in roughly 30-40 minutes, which is the real trade-off here—you get suburban peace and lakeside access, but you're car-dependent for daily life and paying Chicago-area prices for everything from property taxes to groceries. Winters are cold and wet (humid continental climate with four distinct seasons), summers are warm, and the Lake Michigan shoreline does offer genuine outdoor space, though you won't find rugged wilderness—this is manicured North Shore living, complete with country clubs, polo matches in August, and a civic culture built on stability rather than change.
Lake Forest at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Foreign-Born
10.8%
Broadband Internet
95.4%
of households
Population Growth
+1.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.8% foreign-born, most often from India
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 India (14.0%), and 4.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
26.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.9%
of households
Married Couples
67.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
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 42% above IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Forest
In Lake Forest, rent runs 42% above the IL average, and home values are 256% above the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
32.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
88.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,264,926 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IL
Unemployment in Lake Forest and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake County, which includes Lake Forest, is close to the IL average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Forest: Lake County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Lake County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Forest is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Forest Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute31.3 min avg
How Lake Forest residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Forest, most residents drive alone to work (46%), and 59% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 20 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 94% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Forest runs 94% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
20.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
502.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Forest Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lake County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lake County, which includes Lake Forest, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 24 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 26 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $70,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Lake County, county-wide
Lake Forest is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lake County, which includes Lake Forest, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Lake County, county-wide
Lake Forest is about 3% of Lake County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 19°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Forest has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 19°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/19°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.3"
Annual Snowfall
33.6"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
128
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.10" |
| Feb | 36°F | 19°F | 1.98" |
| Mar | 46°F | 28°F | 2.26" |
| Apr | 57°F | 38°F | 4.00" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 4.84" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.31" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 3.74" |
| Aug | 82°F | 62°F | 4.16" |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.59" |
| Nov | 49°F | 33°F | 2.63" |
| Dec | 38°F | 22°F | 2.34" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Forest
Lake Forest has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
1.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
North Chicago VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.9 mi away · North Chicago
Advocate Condell Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Libertyville
Lake Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 8.4 mi away · Waukegan
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.
Education10.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Forest
Lake Forest's student/teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 80.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
80.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lake Forest
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,813 students · in-state tuition $58,902 · 76% graduate · median earnings $70,470 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
7.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 183 students · in-state tuition $20,500 · 88% graduate · median earnings $61,393 (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: Pullman National Historical Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Forest
Lake Forest has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
40 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
57 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Forest
Lake Forest Library
360 East Deerpath Road, Lake Forest
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, Illinois affordable?⌄
Lake Forest's median rent is $1,815/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $235,081/year. Median home value is $938,300.
Is Lake Forest, Illinois safe?⌄
Lake Forest's violent crime rate was 20 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 502 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Forest, Illinois?⌄
Lake County, which includes Lake Forest, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Forest, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Forest is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,815/month and median household income is $235,081/year. The median home value is $938,300. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Forest, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Lake Forest is 31 minutes, which is longer than 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