Irvine, 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.
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Irvine leads in walk score (44 vs 18). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $116,519). Irvine leads in average commute (25.8 min vs 34.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Lake Forest, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 66.3 (#1557) |
| Population | 307,670 | 19,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $1,246,873 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $202,153 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 34.5 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 18 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 0.6 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+20.8 |
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 →
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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