Illinois / Census place 1741105

Lake Forest

A Census profile of the people, homes, and daily patterns that shape this place.

Official Census name: Lake Forest city

At a glance

A city in numbers.

Population
19,731
2025 estimate
Annual change
-0.1%
Population estimate
Density
1,147/sq mi
17.2 sq mi land area
Median age
46.1 years
ACS 5-year estimate

Living here

The everyday equation.

Households, homes, education, and the time it takes to get around.

Median household income
$235,081
Median home value
$938,300
Median gross rent
$1,815
Bachelor’s degree or higher
80.5%
Typical commute
31.3 min
Public transit commute
12.3%

Climate normals

The long view of weather.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast. Temperature and precipitation describe the typical conditions recorded from 1991 through 2020.

Representative station: CHICAGO PALWAUKEE AP (9 mi from place center)
Average high
59.2°F
Average low
42.3°F
Annual rainfall
32.3"
Annual snowfall
0"

Month by month

A year in Lake Forest.

Typical high and low °F
JFMAMJJASOND
Typical precipitation inches
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Data vintage

Population is from the 2025 Population Estimates Program. Household, housing, education, and commute data are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year release.

Similar places

More places to consider.

Selected by the closest mix of population, density, median home value, and average annual high.

CO

Durango, CO

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
19,733
Median home
$668,400
CO

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Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
13,557
Median home
$981,800
WA

Anacortes, WA

Population, housing, work, and travel data for this Census place.

Population
18,080
Median home
$696,700

Keep exploring

Compare Lake Forest with Durango