Photo of Lake Forest, IL
( 7 Ratings )

Living in Lake Forest, IL

Lake Forest Area Facts

  • Lake Forest has a Livability Score of 67/100, which is considered good
  • Lake Forest crime rates are 65% lower than the Illinois average
  • Cost of living in Lake Forest is 88% higher than the Illinois average
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Lake Forest Reviews

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Nice family community User Rating 4 rating By Anonymous ( Feb 03, 2020) We like living in Lake Forest. It is a beautiful town, with terrific beach, quaint downtown and good schools. The area has good restaurants, lots of things to do, shopping, etc. Also we like the express train into Chicago. There are two train stations in Lake Forest, and the Fort ...Read More Sheridan station is also close by.

The tax rate is lower in Lake Forest than in most neighboring communities, so if you are home shopping in the north shore be sure to research property taxes by city. We were surprised at the differences! We saved $7-10K a year by buying in Lake Forest (compared to similarly priced homes in nearby towns.)

We enjoy the festivals and town events, as well as take advantage of those offered in neighboring communities. The community has good sidewalks and bike trails. We like being able to bike to the beach. Also enjoy the parks, rec center, and forest preserves walking trails. There are many nice homes within convenient walking distance to downtown. It is such a pretty community and a great place to live. Like any city, the people are a mix. The town does have its share of fancy mansions and the club member set, but there are also a lot of friendly, down to earth people here too. There are some good family neighborhoods with lots of kids.

One of the things that impresses me most about the area is the active community support and volunteerism. The community actively supports the schools, preserves, city beautification, etc. The town has a Newcomers Club, which is a good way to meet people in the community and has fun activities. It is a nice safe town, and a good place to raise a family. Read Less
Safe city with excellent schools User Rating 4 rating By jsteele17 ( Sep 09, 2014) Lake Forest is a very wealthy community in what is known as 'the north shore' - 25 miles north of the city of Chicago along the shore of Lake Michigan. Two train lines run into the city so commuting is very easy (a normal commute is about 60 minutes, but express trains run a few ...Read More times a day and the ride can be as short as 45 minutes). The community is extremely safe, with wonderful schools. It is very clean with a lot of mature trees. Cost of living, and housing, is on the expensive side though, but the same can be said for most of Chicago's wealthy suburbs. Read Less
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Compare Lake Forest, IL Livability

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      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Lake Forest? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Deerpath Community Park
      Lake Forest Recreation Center
      Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
      Waveland Park
      Veterans Park
      Townline Community Park
      South Park
      West Park

      Entertainment

      History Center Of Lake Forest- Lake Bluff
      Allan Carr Theater
      Allan Carr Theater
      The Cressey Center for the Arts
      McCormick Auditorium
      Lake Bluff History Museum

      Food & Drink

      Chocolates by Bernard
      Jimmy John's
      Chiefs Bar and Grill
      Sweet's
      Lake Forest Food & Wine
      LF Juice
      Dunkin'
      Einstein Bros. Bagels

      F Commute

      Is public transit available in Lake Forest? Of all people who commute, 14.8% take public transportation in Lake Forest.
      Drive to Work
      57%

      19% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      15%

      10% higher than the US average

      Walk to Work
      5%

      2% higher than the US average

      B- Health & Safety

      Is Lake Forest a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital

      Pharmacies

      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens

      Doctors

      North Suburban Center for Oral & Facial Surgery
      Health Center