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Lake Forest, CA
City in Orange County, California. ZIP codes: 92610, 92630.
Population
86,281
Land area
16.7sq mi
People per sq mi
5,162
ZIP codes
2
Lake Forest and its ZIP codes
Lake Forest at a glance
- Lake Forest is about 20 times as dense as California as a whole.
- It is the 97th most populous of 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- Households here earn a median of $135,175 a year, 36% more than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $937,000 (28% above California) and median rent is $2,672 a month.
Local data for Lake Forest, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Lake Forest, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$135,175
Poverty rate
8.5%
Median home value
$937,000
Median rent
$2,672/mo
Homeownership
70.5%
Bachelor's or higher
50.8%
Median age
40.2
Average commute
25.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (17,138), German Americans (8,602), Irish Americans (6,440).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Orange County. PPP loans are for Lake Forest.
Unemployment rate
4.4%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$84,864
1,663,220 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$94,034
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$25.2B
FY 2026, $7,922 per person
PPP loans
$338M
3,129 loans, 37,542 jobs reported
How people get to work
Lake Forest, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone65.5%
- Carpooled6.5%
- Public transit1.0%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home24.4%
Average one-way commute: 25.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Lake Forest, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
905
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
7,994
1.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
88° / 49°F
13.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Lake Forest, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
23.5%
U.S. 33.3% -9.8 pts
Diabetes
9.9%
U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts
Smoking
8.5%
U.S. 12.8% -4.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.7%
U.S. 11.1% -4.4 pts
ZIP codes in Lake Forest
2 in or overlapping Lake Forest. Population shown
Cities near Lake Forest
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Mission ViejoCity | 3.8 mi | 17.7 |
| Rancho Santa MargaritaCity | 4.4 mi | 12.9 |
| Laguna HillsCity | 4.4 mi | 6.5 |
| ModjeskaCensus-designated place | 4.4 mi | 2 |
| Laguna WoodsCity | 4.6 mi | 3.3 |
| Trabuco CanyonCensus-designated place | 5.2 mi | 7.3 |
| Williams CanyonCensus-designated place | 5.4 mi | 0.6 |
| IrvineCity | 5.8 mi | 65.6 |
| Las FloresCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 2.5 |
| Aliso ViejoCity | 6.2 mi | 6.9 |
| Coto de CazaCensus-designated place | 6.5 mi | 7.8 |
| SilveradoCensus-designated place | 7.1 mi | 5.7 |
| Ladera RanchCensus-designated place | 7.5 mi | 4.9 |
| Laguna NiguelCity | 9 mi | 14.7 |
| TustinCity | 9.2 mi | 11.1 |
| Laguna BeachCity | 9.5 mi | 8.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Lake Forest, CA in?
- Lake Forest is in Orange County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in Lake Forest, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Lake Forest include 92610, 92630.
- What is the population of Lake Forest, CA?
- About 86,281 people live in Lake Forest, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Lake Forest?
- Nearby places include Mission Viejo (3.8 mi), Rancho Santa Margarita (4.4 mi), Laguna Hills (4.4 mi), Modjeska (4.4 mi), Laguna Woods (4.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023