City profile
Lake Forest, CA
Orange County · Population 86,281
Lake Forest is a city in Orange County, CA with about 86,281 residents and a typical home value near $937,000. It is 43 miles from Los Angeles, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
59°F
Summer avg
74°F
Sunny days / yr
284
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$937,000
Typical monthly housing
$5,644
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
166
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Very High · county score 100/100
Top hazards: Earthquake, Wildfire, Riverine flooding
Nearest major airport
11 mi to John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 50% Democratic / 47% Republican
Community
Population
86,281
Black population
2.5%
County
Orange County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 86,281 residents
- Typical home value about $937,000
- 43 miles from Los Angeles, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.