Hercules, CA 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.
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (0.6 vs 4.6). Hercules leads in walk score (29 vs 18). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $125,880).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Hercules, CA | Lake Forest, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.3 (#1776) | 66.3 (#1557) |
| Population | 26,582 | 19,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $743,984 | $1,246,873 |
| Median Household Income | $125,880 | $202,153 |
| Average Commute | 40.4 min | 34.5 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 18 |
| Crime Level | 4.6 | 0.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 171 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+38.0 | D+20.8 |
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →
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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