Lake Forest is a medium-sized city located in the state of Illinois. The city has a population of 19,888 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Lake Forest is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Lake Forest offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 36 minutes.
Are you trying to ascertain if living in Lake Forest is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a fulfilling experience before relocating to any new city in Illinois, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Lake Forest, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like health & safety, employment, housing and more.
Lake Forest has a livability score of 67/100 and is ranked #446 in Illinois and #9,289 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Lake Forest has higher than average rankings for the following: crime (A+), education (A) and housing (A-). On a less positive note, Lake Forest does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F) and cost of living (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Lake Forest, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 21 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.
Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Lake Forest has an unemployment rate of 1.9% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.
Parents and families tend to prioritize school test scores when choosing educational institutions. Test score data can be a critical factor in evaluating and comparing schools. In Lake Forest, the average school test scores are an impressive 66%, well above the national average. This achievement reflects the educational system's dedication to providing students with the essential knowledge and tools for success. It ensures that your children will receive the support and resources needed to excel academically and thrive in their educational pursuits.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Lake Forest has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Lake Forest real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Lake Forest. Median real estate prices in Lake Forest come in at $1,455,632, which is 371.7% higher than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lake Forest, the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 48.6% higher than the Illinois average.
| Statistic | Lake Forest | Illinois | National |
| Average one way commute | 36min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 57.3% | 73.4% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 2.4% | 8.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 14.8% | 9.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 4.7% | 3.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 17.9% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
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