Forest Lake, MN vs Irvine, 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.
Forest Lake
71.7
#964 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 18). Forest Lake leads in cost of living index (114 vs 178). Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $91,157).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Forest Lake, MN | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.7 (#964) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 20,685 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,441 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $91,157 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 3.3 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+8.9 | D+2.6 |
C-
71.7 Score
Forest Lake, MN
Small Minnesota city with local appeal
Median Home
$432,441
Population
20,685
Crime
Low
Walk Score
18
Midwest
View Forest Lake, MN →
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Forest Lake for: