Denton, TX vs Lake Forest, CA
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.
Denton
72.8
#822 nationally
Lake Forest
65.3
#1638 nationally
Lake Forest leads in median household income ($128,358 vs $71,921). Denton leads in cost of living index (105 vs 181). Lake Forest leads in crime level (4.0 vs 5.6).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Denton, TX | Lake Forest, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.8 (#822) | 65.3 (#1638) |
| Population | 158,349 | 85,840 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $350,224 | $1,187,225 |
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $128,358 |
| Average Commute | 24.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | 34 | 41 |
| Crime Level | 5.6 | 4.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 105 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+13.2 | D+2.6 |
C-
72.8 Score
Denton, TX
Mid-size Texas city with community character
Median Home
$350,224
Population
158,349
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
34
Southwest
View Denton, TX →
D
65.3 Score
Lake Forest, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,187,225
Population
85,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Lake Forest, CA →
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