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CITY

Lake Forest

Illinois · 19,731 residents (2025 est.) · 17.2 sq mi
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Part of the Chicago metro area
The short version

Lake Forest is home to 19,416 people in Illinois. That is roughly 182% ahead of the Illinois median. Median household income runs $235,081, well clear of the $82,259 US median. 81% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Median home value sits at $938,300. 89% of homes are owner-occupied.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $235,081, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 46.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
81% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 19%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Lake Forest

What changed most since 1990

  • Hispanic share1.5% → 6.1% (+4.6 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts

Among the 394 cities and towns in the Chicago metro

  • 9th in household income$235,081
  • 13th in share with a bachelor's degree80.5%
  • 7th in home value$938,300
  • 259th in diversity score43.1

Its weight in Lake County

Lake Forest's population equals 2.7% of Lake County's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 1.1% of the county's. Its number of foreign-born residents equals 1.5% of the county's.

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,416
−3%since 2000
from 20,059 in 2000
19,731 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,129 / sq mi
−3%since 2000
from 1,166 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
46.1
+12%since 2000
from 41.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
17.2 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
18K18K19K20K21K19902000201020202024Lake Forest
202419K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55%(964)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.8%(941)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.5%(1,072)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.9%(1,535)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.3%(1,609)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349%(1,754)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448%(1,549)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.2%(2,363)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.6%(2,445)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.8%(2,493)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8410.4%(2,024)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(667)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$235,081
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $136,462 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$109,918
+43%since 2000
from $77,092 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
81.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 2.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.481
−15%since 2010
from 0.567 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services12.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade11.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Public administration8.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Information6.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance2%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade2%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$938,300
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $638,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,815
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,005 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
88.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
11.2% rent
Vacancy rate
5.2%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.63 people
−7%since 2009
from 2.82 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
24.3%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.1%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 36.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
−32%since 2009
from 5.8 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(18,537)
Black1.3%(263)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(376)
Asian3.4%(691)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.2%(15,577)
Black1%(186)
Hispanic / Latino6.1%(1,182)
Asian6.4%(1,248)
Other6.3%(1,223)
Diversity Score
43
+142%since 2009
from 18 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican3.3%(633)
Puerto Rican0.7%(143)
Guatemalan0.4%(80)
Spaniard0.4%(80)
Ecuadorian0.3%(53)
Peruvian0.2%(43)
Colombian0.2%(40)
Costa Rican0.1%(26)
Argentine0.1%(19)
Honduran0.1%(16)
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.1%(14)
Cuban0%(3)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2.5%(480)
Korean1.4%(269)
Chinese1%(200)
Vietnamese0.5%(96)
Filipino0.5%(92)
Taiwanese0.2%(42)
Japanese0.2%(37)
Nepalese0.2%(30)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.4%(80)
Ancestry
Irish17.8%(3,458)
German17.4%(3,385)
English13.6%(2,639)
Italian8.5%(1,658)
Polish7.1%(1,378)
Scottish3.1%(606)
French2.9%(567)
American2.7%(523)
Swedish2.7%(515)
Russian2%(380)
Greek1.9%(374)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1.3%(260)
Norwegian1.3%(258)
Armenian0.7%(141)
Swiss0.7%(134)
Austrian0.7%(130)
British0.6%(126)
Arab0.6%(123)
Czech0.6%(109)
Belgian0.5%(101)
Danish0.5%(100)
Serbian0.5%(91)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(78)
Croatian0.4%(72)
Ukrainian0.4%(69)
Australian0.3%(66)
Iranian0.3%(65)
Canadian0.3%(58)
West Indian0.3%(58)
Lithuanian0.3%(53)
Welsh0.2%(47)
Hungarian0.2%(43)
Slovak0.2%(37)
Brazilian0.2%(36)
Jamaican0.2%(36)
Egyptian0.2%(33)
Slovene0.2%(32)
Nigerian0.1%(23)
Latvian0.1%(20)
Portuguese0.1%(16)
Finnish0.1%(15)
Lebanese0.1%(14)
Moroccan0.1%(13)
Haitian0.1%(10)
Kenyan0%(1)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
80.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 97.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
41.9%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 33.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.3 min
+35%since 2000
from 23.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
46.1%
−21.7 ptssince 2009
from 67.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
1.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
12.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
30.3%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 53.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
65.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 62.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
11.1%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
69.6%
+13.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
52.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
10.8%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.7%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+6.4 ptssince 2012
from 6.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2013
from 2.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
95.4%
+3.0 ptssince 2017
from 92.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
98.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 97.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
84.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 83.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2016
from 88.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.2%(2,526)
Married62.7%(4,926)
Widowed1.5%(115)
Divorced3.6%(284)
Women 15+
Never married23.7%(2,037)
Married57.5%(4,941)
Widowed10.1%(867)
Divorced8.7%(743)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
1.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2013
from 2.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
70.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 71.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
19.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 21.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
25.6%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 22.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
4.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2020
from 3.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 1.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
86.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2020
from 88.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
29.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2020
from 26.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)9.9%(42)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)7.7%(33)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era52.6%(224)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4%(17)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.3%(14)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 426 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Lake Forest, decade by decade

Lake Forest population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
199017,836$227,584$1,200,037+65.7%12.1
200020,059$248,587$1,163,67373.8%18.0
201019,375$196,798$1,257,59974.3%22.9
202019,367$229,218$991,44881.2%34.7
202419,416$235,081$938,30080.5%43.1

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Lake Forest

Pinecrest
Pop 18,635
Saratoga
Pop 30,418
Lake Butler
Pop 17,125
Los Gatos
Pop 32,576
Places similar to Lake Forest
Head to head

Compare Lake Forest to nearby cities

LAKE FOREST VS
Highland Park
Income$168,094−28%
Home value$607,300−35%
Population30,767+56%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE FOREST VS
Deerfield
Income$181,660−23%
Home value$623,400−34%
Population19,642same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE FOREST VS
Vernon Hills
Income$121,943−48%
Home value$412,300−56%
Population26,825+36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE FOREST VS
North Chicago
Income$60,172−74%
Home value$159,600−83%
Population34,050+73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lake Forest, Illinois?

Lake Forest, Illinois has about 19,416 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lake Forest, Illinois?

The typical household in Lake Forest, Illinois earns about $235,081 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lake Forest, Illinois expensive?

In Lake Forest, Illinois, the median home is worth about $938,300, and the typical rent is about $1,815 a month.

How educated are people in Lake Forest, Illinois?

About 80.5% of adults age 25 and over in Lake Forest, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lake Forest, Illinois?

About 3.5% of people in Lake Forest, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lake Forest, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Lake Forest, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,580 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →