Lake Forest, California Income Statistics
Lake Forest Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
A
Lake Forest Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lake Forest | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $137,212 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $89,063 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 26.2% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 30.8% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lake Forest is about 38% higher than in California. Income has been growing slower in Lake Forest (4.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 26% of adults in Lake Forest earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lake Forest, California grew by 51.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $137,212 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lake Forest
| Metric | Lake Forest | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.537 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $105,318 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $79,247 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.8% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Lake Forest, it is 0.537, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 33% more than women's income in Lake Forest, California. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $912,485 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake Forest, California has narrowed from about 26% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,319 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lake Forest | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.9% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,940 people are unemployed in Lake Forest, California.
The average commute time in Lake Forest is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lake Forest, California has fallen from 6.0% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2019.
Lake Forest, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Lake Forest, CA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest, CA | 77,757 | $137,212 #2/3 | 4.8%/yr #1/3 | 4.5% #1/3 | 0.537 #2/3 |
| Mission Viejo, CA | 95,648 | $138,601 | 3.5%/yr | 5.0% | 0.527 |
| Laguna Hills, CA | 29,550 | $108,246 | 3.6%/yr | 5.9% | 0.537 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lake Forest, California has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it notably better than California, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lake Forest, California.
How Rich Is Lake Forest, California?
Lake Forest has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $137,212, about 38% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in Lake Forest, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lake Forest, California rose 52%, from $90,491 to $137,212. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +52% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Lake Forest in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lake Forest, California was $131,710, up 2% from $129,282 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Lake Forest in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lake Forest, California was $110,932. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $137,212.
Do many residents of Lake Forest, California earn over $100,000?
Yes. 26% of adults in Lake Forest, California earn $100,000 or more a year (about 1 in 4), against 18% (about 1 in 6) in California. 31% of households have a combined income of $200,000 or more, compared with 20% in California.
Is it hard to find a job in Lake Forest, California?
Unemployment in Lake Forest, California is only 4.5%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lake Forest, California?
The Gini coefficient in Lake Forest is 0.537. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Lake Forest, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake Forest, California has narrowed from about 26% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2012, and was narrowest at 17% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,319 since 2009.
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