The Town FilesLake Forest, Illinois
City in Lake County · population 19,367 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $938,300
- Household income
- $235,081
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 46.1
Lake Forest is a city of 19,367 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $938,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns.
How Lake Forest ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Forest is worth $938,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $235,081, which is more affordable than 4% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,815 a month. 88.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Forest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $938,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,815 | $960 |
| Median household income | $235,081 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.8% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Lake Forest
| People | Lake Forest | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.8% | — |
| Work from home | 30.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Lake Forest
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Forest since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 1967.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Lake Forest itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Lake Forest
7 public schools with 3,181 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest High School | 9-12 | 1,375 | 11.1 |
| Deer Path Middle Sch West | 7-8 | 382 | 9.3 |
| Deer Path Middle Sch East | 5-6 | 363 | 9.8 |
| Cherokee Elem School | K-4 | 339 | 10.3 |
| Everett Elem School | K-4 | 308 | 11.0 |
| Sheridan Elem School | PK-4 | 265 | 10.2 |
| Rondout Elem School | K-8 | 149 | 8.3 |
Towns near Lake Forest
- Highwood, IL3.0 mi · 5,074 people · home $405,400
- Lake Bluff, IL3.3 mi · 5,616 people · home $776,700
- Lincolnshire, IL4.1 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Highland Park, IL4.4 mi · 30,176 people · home $607,300
- Riverwoods, IL4.7 mi · 3,790 people · home $800,700
- Deerfield, IL4.8 mi · 19,196 people · home $623,400
- Green Oaks, IL5.2 mi · 4,128 people · home $673,100
- Vernon Hills, IL5.3 mi · 26,850 people · home $412,300
Lake Forest questions
Is Lake Forest, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Forest scores better for retirees than 93% of Illinois towns and quieter than 33%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Forest?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Forest is valued at $938,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $235,081, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,815 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Forest?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Lake Forest get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Forest since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)