Living in Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest is the 422nd-largest city in the US, home to about 86,000 people in 2025. Its population has been roughly flat since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (113.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 86,333+0.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $937,0006.9 years of median income
- Median rent
- $2,672/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $135,175median, per year
- Price level
- 113.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 68° / 85°lows 43° / 61°
- Average commute
- 26 min24% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
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County: Orange County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 486 ft
Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Cost of living in Lake Forest
The median home in Lake Forest is worth $937,000 and the median household earns $135,175 a year, so a typical home costs about 6.9 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $2,672 a month, about 24% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area at 113.6, with housing at 170.4 and goods at 106.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $85,200 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest weather
Average highs run from 68°F in January to 85°F in July, and January nights average 43°F. It gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are October to July.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Lake Forest
People and work
The median resident is 40.2 years old, and 51% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 70% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 26 minutes; 24% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 40.2454th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 51%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 71%of households
- People per sq mile
- 5,16516.7 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.4% bike
- Unemployment
- 4.9%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 8.5%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1984median year
Who moves to Lake Forest, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Riverside (Riverside County), San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) and San Jose (Santa Clara County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Riverside (Riverside County), San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) and Phoenix (Maricopa County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Orange County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: inland flooding, earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Home prices
+3.3% in a year
Up 46% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA (MSAD) area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
11% good days
99 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Lake Forest
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Angel Stadium of Anaheim 16 miles
- University of California-Irvine 9 miles
- Mt San Antonio College 29 miles
- Stanbridge University 10 miles
- University of California-Riverside 31 miles
- Saddleback College 6 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Lake Forest
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| John Wayne Airport SNA | 11 mi | 5,370,273 |
| Ontario International Airport ONT | 29 mi | 3,494,554 |
| Long Beach Airport LGB | 29 mi | 2,031,810 |
| San Bernardino International Airport SBD | 41 mi | 20,147 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Lake Forest
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | 20 mi | 38,546 | $5,115 | 68% |
| University of California-Irvine | 9 mi | 30,197 | $13,866 | 87% |
| Saddleback College | 6 mi | 17,684 | $23,913 | 51% |
| Fullerton College | 21 mi | 17,121 | $1,302 | 42% |
| Santiago Canyon College | 11 mi | 10,579 | $2,040 | 48% |
| Irvine Valley College | 6 mi | 10,286 | $21,874 | 58% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Lake Forest
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before January 5, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around December 13 and the first frost comes around December 25.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Tustin Irvine Rch, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Lake Forest.
Wildfire smoke in Lake Forest
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Lake Forest on about 37 days a year, including about 7 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Lake Forest
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 30,466 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Lake Forest
Downtown Lake Forest is in this district. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saddleback Valley Unified School District | K to 12 | 22,691 | 34 | 22.7 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Capistrano Unified School District (40,358 students), Irvine Unified School District (38,028 students), Santa Ana Unified School District (36,036 students), Orange Unified School District (23,823 students), Tustin Unified School District (21,342 students), Lake Elsinore Unified School District (20,559 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Lake Forest's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Lake Forest's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Concord, CA69% matchCompare
- San Jose, CA69% matchCompare
- Livermore, CA68% matchCompare
- Hayward, CA65% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Lake Forest
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Lake Forest
- Mount Baldy Ski Lifts 43 miles
- Buckhorn Ski Club 50 miles
- Kratka Ridge 50 miles
- Mountain High 51 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Lake Forest
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 10 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 68°F.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 6.9 years of median household income.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 14% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data High natural hazard risk in Orange County (FEMA rates it very high), led by inland flooding, earthquake and wildfire.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 99 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
Lake Forest report card from locals
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Cities near Lake Forest
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Viejo, CA | 3 mi | 90,484 | $1,009,600 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Irvine, CA | 8 mi | 318,764 | $1,191,500 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Tustin, CA | 10 mi | 77,843 | $950,400 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Newport Beach, CA | 12 mi | 81,977 | $2,000,001 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Santa Ana, CA | 13 mi | 315,586 | $713,000 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 13 mi | 108,881 | $1,115,100 | 113.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Lake Forest ranks 10th of 144 in our best suburbs of Los Angeles ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Lake Forest with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Forest a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 10 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes. Compare Lake Forest side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Lake Forest?
The Census Bureau estimates Lake Forest had 86,333 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 85,871 in April 2020 (+0.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Lake Forest?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in the Lake Forest area. The median household here earns $135,175.
When is the best time to visit Lake Forest?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, October to July are the most comfortable months. July averages 85°F and January 68°F for daytime highs.
What county is Lake Forest in?
Lake Forest is in Orange County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Lake Forest in?
Lake Forest is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Lake Forest?
About 486 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Lake Forest. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Tustin Irvine Rch, CA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.