Population 19,494 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake Forest
Household size in Lake Forest
| Period | Lake Forest | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.74 | 2.79 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.82 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 2.75 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.66 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | −0.12 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Households in Lake Forest average 2.72 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Households are largest in the south and smallest in the north.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.4 | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.8 | 38.9 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.6 | 39.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +3.0 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Lake Forest skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.6, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 44.2 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 30 are older.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 12.0% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.6% | 11.2% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 11.5% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.0% of households in Lake Forest, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national share fell. Only 27 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.2% | 32.1% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 35.5% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.3% | 34.5% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 11.3% of households in Lake Forest rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (43.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the southeast. The renter share is up 2.1 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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 8.9% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 7.2% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Lake Forest is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.1 points, mirroring the country.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1967 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1967 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1970 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Lake Forest was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in the Chicago area overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast 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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,344 | $1,060 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,658 | $1,142 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,232 | $1,306 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,997 | $1,602 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$653 | +$542 | +$475 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lake Forest costs $1,997 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $653 a month since 2006–10, up 49%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the south.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 73.2% | 33.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 75.0% | 35.2% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 79.8% | 37.9% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 79.9% | 40.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +7.0 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Lake Forest: 79.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 6.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only five have a higher share of college graduates.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.3% | 85.6% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.7% | 86.7% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.7% | 88.4% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.7% | 89.5% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +3.9 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Lake Forest: 97.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 24 have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 9.1% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 6.3% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 6.3% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lake Forest has been strong: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 12 have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 | 2.72 | 46.6 | 5.0% | 11.3% | 8.3% | 1976 | $1,997 | 79.9% | 97.7% | 1.9% |
| Highwood | 2.56 | 41.5 | 5.7% | 43.2% | 2.9% | 1958 | $1,984 | 42.6% | 82.7% | 4.6% |
| Bannockburn | 2.62 | 31.8 | 2.3% | 5.8% | 3.7% | 1970 | $3,456 | 81.2% | 99.3% | 2.2% |
| Lake Bluff | 2.58 | 42.8 | 5.0% | 28.6% | 8.7% | 1977 | $1,939 | 67.9% | 96.1% | 3.4% |
| Mettawa | 2.44 | 48.3 | 3.0% | 19.6% | 11.7% | 1993 | $3,247 | 67.7% | 98.1% | 2.6% |
| Highland Park | 2.64 | 46.4 | 4.1% | 15.9% | 6.0% | 1963 | $2,022 | 77.9% | 97.3% | 3.3% |
| Lincolnshire | 2.65 | 47.6 | 5.0% | 22.3% | 6.6% | 1987 | $2,761 | 76.4% | 97.6% | 2.7% |
| Great Lakes | 2.69 | 21.4 | 12.0% | 99.6% | 12.8% | 1974 | $1,805 | 13.6% | 99.8% | 1.3% |
| Deerfield | 2.71 | 44.5 | 4.6% | 14.5% | 3.0% | 1972 | $2,308 | 81.1% | 98.6% | 2.9% |
| Riverwoods | 2.77 | 43.0 | 8.2% | 26.4% | 7.3% | 1982 | $2,267 | 79.3% | 98.6% | 1.9% |
| Green Oaks | 2.99 | 41.1 | 4.2% | 13.1% | 5.1% | 1989 | $1,928 | 70.6% | 96.5% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Mill Valley, CA · Mukwonago, WI · Mount Pleasant, TX · Mount Joy, PA · Morton, IL · Morris, IL · Moraga, CA · Monticello, MN · Monroe, CT · Mineral Wells, TX
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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