Boone, NC vs Lake Forest, IL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Boone
71.1
#1016 nationally
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $28,242). Lake Forest leads in crime level (0.6 vs 2.5). Boone leads in walk score (49 vs 18).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boone, NC | Lake Forest, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.1 (#1016) | 66.3 (#1557) |
| Population | 19,811 | 19,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $491,253 | $1,246,873 |
| Median Household Income | $28,242 | $202,153 |
| Average Commute | 13.8 min | 34.5 min |
| Walk Score | 49 | 18 |
| Crime Level | 2.5 | 0.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 109 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+6.0 | D+20.8 |
C-
71.1 Score
Boone, NC
Small North Carolina city with local appeal
Median Home
$491,253
Population
19,811
Crime
Low
Walk Score
49
Southeast
View Boone, NC →
D
66.3 Score
Lake Forest, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,246,873
Population
19,354
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
18
Midwest
View Lake Forest, IL →
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