Houston, TX 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.
Houston
72.1
#926 nationally
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $57,791). Houston leads in walk score (48 vs 18). Houston leads in cost of living index (96 vs 178).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Houston, TX | Lake Forest, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 72.1 (#926) | 66.3 (#1557) |
| Population | 2,314,157 | 19,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $263,563 | $1,246,873 |
| Median Household Income | $57,791 | $202,153 |
| Average Commute | 28.5 min | 34.5 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 18 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-High | 0.6 |
| School Rating | 5.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 96 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+5.5 | D+20.8 |
C-
72.1 Score
Houston, TX
Space City with global energy
Median Home
$263,563
Population
2,314,157
Crime
Moderate-High
Schools
C
Southwest
View Houston, TX →
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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