Lake Forest, IL vs Springfield, MA
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.
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Springfield
69.4
#1222 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (0.6 vs 24.4). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $47,677). Springfield leads in walk score (58 vs 18).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lake Forest, IL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.3 (#1557) | 69.4 (#1222) |
| Population | 19,354 | 153,672 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,246,873 | $307,092 |
| Median Household Income | $202,153 | $47,677 |
| Average Commute | 34.5 min | 21 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 58 |
| Crime Level | 0.6 | 24.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 110 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.8 | D+8.9 |
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 →
D+
69.4 Score
Springfield, MA
Mid-size Massachusetts city with community character
Median Home
$307,092
Population
153,672
Crime
High
Walk Score
58
Northeast
View Springfield, MA →
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