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CA area data

Lake Forest, CA

Lake Forest, CA.

Population: 67,152 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Lake Forest, CA is $1.18M — up 1.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $1.30M after a median 45 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,175/month. 10 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very High, with earthquake, inland flooding, coastal flooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$1.18M

Typical home value

+1.5%

1-year change

45

Median days on market

Very High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$1.18M
1-year appreciation
+1.5%
3-year appreciation
+14.6%
5-year appreciation
+39.1%
10-year appreciation
+96.0%
Peak value since 2000 (Feb 2025)
$1.20M
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$1.30M
Median list price
$1.20M
Median price per sqft
$637
1-year sale-price change
+12.1%
Median days on market
45 days
Homes sold (recent period)
152
For-sale inventory
227
Sale-to-list ratio
99.2%
Active listings
184
1-year forecast
+1.7%
Days to pending
42 days
New listings (monthly)
62

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$3,175/mo
1-year rent change
+4.0%
Studio fair-market rent
$2,580/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$2,610/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$3,057/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$4,153/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$4,964/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
10
Elementary schools
7
Middle schools
2
High schools
1
Charter schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
23.8 : 1
School districts serving the area
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley District, Saddleback Valley Unified, Oxford Preparatory Academy - Middle District
Schools include
Oxford Preparatory Academy - Saddleback Valley, Lake Forest Elementary, El Toro High, Ralph A. Gates DLI Magnet Elementary, La Madera Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very High
Top hazards (county)
earthquake, inland flooding, coastal flooding, heat wave, landslide
Notable hazard ratings (county)
earthquake: Very High · inland flooding: Very High · heat wave: Relatively High · wildfire: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High · coastal flooding: Relatively High
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
17
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 100% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
2.6%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
El Toro Marine Corps Air Station (2.8 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
63.0°F
Average high
74.0°F
Average low
52.0°F
Annual precipitation
12.7 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
10b (extreme annual low 35 to 40°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
53
Days with Good air quality
138
Days with Moderate air quality
214
Days with Unhealthy air quality
2
Highest AQI recorded (year)
159

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
15.7 / 20
Transit service frequency
817
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
167,224
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
127,679

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (31 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
20
Nearest airport
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA) (11 mi)
Nearest major airport
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA) (11 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
121
Hospitals include
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, GLENDALE MEM HOSPITAL & HLTH CENTER, HOLLYWOOD PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
105
Solar radiation rating
Good (5.2 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-14,994 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1981
Housing built before 1970
11.3%
Housing built 2000 or later
15.8%
Median annual property tax
$5,451
Mean commute to work
19 min
Households with broadband internet
85.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
1,501,121
Average weekly wage
$1,610
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
4,992

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Lake ForestState medianUS median
Typical home value$1.18M$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$1.30M$696,000$325,000
Median days on market45 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$3,175/mo$2,786/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$5,451$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Lake Forest, CA?
$1.18M.
What is the median sale price in Lake Forest, CA?
$1.30M.
How long do homes take to sell in Lake Forest, CA?
Median days on market: 45 days.
What is typical rent in Lake Forest, CA?
Typical rent: $3,175/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Lake Forest, CA?
Overall risk: Very High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, inland flooding, coastal flooding, heat wave, landslide.
Is Lake Forest, CA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Lake Forest, CA. 17 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Lake Forest, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 100% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Lake Forest, CA?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Lake Forest, CA?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, 2.8 mi.
How many schools serve Lake Forest, CA?
10 schools (7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Lake Forest, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 15.7/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Lake Forest, CA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 53. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Lake Forest, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Lake Forest

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents