Population 65,433 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake Forest
Household size in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.91 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.99 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.89 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.88 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Lake Forest holds 2.88 people, more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Locally, though, the typical household here is smaller than in the Los Angeles area as a whole, where it has 3.01 people. Households are largest in the center and smallest in the west.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.0 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.7 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.1 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 41.1, the median age in Lake Forest is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in the wider Los Angeles area, where the median age is 39.5. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 39.0, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.5% of households in Lake Forest, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.9 points, in line with the national trend. Lake Forest has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lake Forest
Renters in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.9% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.5% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.2% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 31.5% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Lake Forest own their homes; 31.5% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 25.5% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the northeast and least common in the center. The renter share is up 1.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Lake Forest than nationally: 5.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The Los Angeles area as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1979 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Lake Forest are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1983, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are newer than in the Los Angeles area overall, where the median home dates to 1969. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the southwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,697 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,699 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,283 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,880 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,183 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Lake Forest runs $2,880 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,183 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lake Forest
Bachelor's degrees in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.4% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 39.4% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.5% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.9% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Lake Forest is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (46.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.7% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.1% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.0% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lake Forest is above the national rate: 93.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lake Forest is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the Los Angeles area overall (6.7%). Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lake Forest compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest | 2.88 | 41.1 | 6.5% | 31.5% | 5.8% | 1983 | $2,880 | 46.9% | 93.0% | 4.8% |
| Mission Viejo | 2.82 | 46.4 | 5.6% | 21.9% | 5.4% | 1981 | $3,066 | 52.3% | 94.0% | 5.2% |
| Foothill Ranch | 3.09 | 39.2 | 8.6% | 26.5% | 5.6% | 2006 | $3,058 | 69.1% | 97.9% | 4.3% |
| Laguna Woods | 1.51 | 74.1 | 2.7% | 27.9% | 13.9% | 1971 | $2,385 | 51.8% | 95.9% | 5.8% |
| Laguna Hills | 2.74 | 42.6 | 9.8% | 34.6% | 8.4% | 1984 | $2,806 | 54.0% | 94.0% | 5.9% |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | 2.77 | 39.8 | 6.1% | 32.0% | 4.6% | 1992 | $2,930 | 51.7% | 94.9% | 3.5% |
| Top-of-the-World | 2.98 | 43.2 | 8.3% | 8.0% | 1.2% | 1997 | $2,950 | 75.6% | 98.2% | 2.1% |
| Aliso Viejo | 2.61 | 40.4 | 7.1% | 43.2% | 5.5% | 1996 | $2,839 | 57.8% | 95.9% | 4.3% |
| Trabuco Canyon | 2.85 | 46.2 | 4.6% | 14.4% | 5.4% | 1992 | $3,268 | 55.8% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| Modjeska | 2.94 | 48.1 | 8.8% | 14.5% | 6.3% | 1968 | $2,188 | 55.3% | 96.3% | 1.2% |
| Silverado | 2.57 | 45.4 | 6.9% | 10.6% | 4.8% | 1956 | $2,286 | 51.3% | 91.5% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Brentwood, CA · Wyoming, MI · Powder Springs, GA · San Pablo, CA · Malden, MA · Aiken, SC · Hanford, CA · Grants Pass, OR · Goose Creek, SC · Gilroy, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lake Forest. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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