Lake Forest is a suburban city sitting just east of Irvine. It's named for the natural features that are integral to its residential developments. "There are a lot of big, fully grown trees that make the streets feel very mature," says Cayenne Kuang, a broker with Spectrum Realty, who's been selling in the Irvine area since the 1990s. Pines and cedars line the city's main drives and shade grassy lawns within communities. Plus, the Santa Ana Mountains north of the city are home to the Cleveland National Forest. Within the city's neighborhoods, residents enjoy the perks of suburban life. "People who move here really care about the communal amenities," says Kuang. "They like having all the activities around them." Many communities have pickleball courts, pools and green space, and if they don't, a city park is usually less than a mile away.
Lake Forest's real estate blends scenic lakes, lush forests, and rolling hills.
Nearby golf courses offer scenic fairways and a wonderful experience for all players.
Homes in Lake Forest have a stunning view of the Santa Ana Mountains.
The Lake Forest Sports Park has a playground for children of all ages to enjoy.
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Community parks and hiking the Santa Ana Mountains
With over 30 parks in Lake Forest, this town has a lot more to offer than its two neighborhood lakes. Most of these spaces are walkable from nearby neighborhoods or even have connecting trails, a result of intricate planning by the city. Maybe the most popular option is Lake Forest Sports Park, just south of state Route 241. This athletic hub hosts 1,200 attendees at its monthly open gym, and 57 of its 86 acres are devoted to multiuse fields and a recreation center; this makes it one of the biggest sports parks in Orange County. For even more fun, residents could roam around the eucalyptus grove at Serrano Creek Park, and kids can climb a rock-walled playground at Cherry Grove Park. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, toward the Santa Ana foothills, has a bit more open space — 2,500 acres to be exact. Scenic formations along these 17 miles of trails are sure to impress, especially the colorful crags at Red Rock Canyon, and history buffs can find remnants of cattle ranches scattered throughout the park. Lake Forest's climate is friendly to year-round hiking. Temperatures hover around 60 degrees through most months and top out around 70 degrees in the summer.
The Lake Forest Sports Park features multiple fields for soccer, baseball, and more.
Serrano Creek Park offers serene trails, lush greenery, and peaceful picnic spots.
Cherry Park is the perfect family destination for fun in the sun.
Lake Forest's median single-family home price is just over $1 million. This is high compared to national averages, but less expensive than nearby Irvine, which has a median single-family price of over $2 million. Lake Forest is a suburban city comprised of residential developments like Lake Forest Shores, where New Traditional and Mediterranean-style homes sit around human-made lakes. Communities on the city's north end, like Foothill Ranch, provide more extensive views of the Santa Ana Mountains to the north. Prices fluctuate within communities. Most homes are around the median prices, but a modern new build on the next street can cost over $2 million. New developments have set the tone for rising prices, like Baker Ranch just off state Route 241, where many homes approach $3 million.
Larger, Spanish and Mediterranean-style homes can be found in the Lake Forest neighborhood.
The city is named after its two man-made lakes surrounded by lush forest areas.
Foothill Ranch boasts stunning mountain views and a charming suburban vibe.
This Baker Ranch two-story Craftsman emphasizes handcrafted and artisanal details.
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A-rated Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Lake Forest is part of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, which gets an overall A rating from Niche. Schools like A-rated La Madera Elementary are walkable from many homes. Lake Forest's Oxford Preparatory Academy is a highly touted public charter option. It's given an A-plus from Niche and ranked the No. 3 best charter elementary school in California. The University of California, Irvine, only 10 miles from Lake Forest, is one of the top 10 public universities in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.
La Madera Elementary School is located in Lake Forest and serves students K-6.
Oxford Preparatory Academy provides a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for college.
The University of California, Irvine is a prestigious campus near Lake Forest.
Aldrich Park is centrally located on the UCI campus, offering serene green space.
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Foothill Ranch Towne Center and other nearby malls
Lake Forest isn’t known for its nightlife, but its shopping districts provide all-day entertainment. Foothill Ranch Towne Center is within walking distance of some northern homes and houses more than 80 stores and fast-food chains. Foodies can eat around the globe at its Food Festival Food Court, which has Japanese, Brazilian, Italian and more. Restaurants in The Orchard shopping mall are similarly eclectic: anything from Mediterranean kebabs to down-home barbecue, next to more big-box shopping. Rancho Santa Margarita Town Center is another option, just east of state Route 241. Art lovers can find comfort here with Ovations Performing Arts Conservatory and Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, but if they want more entertainment, they can head five miles west to Irvine Spectrum Center’s Ferris wheel and mall. Newport Beach’s galleries and studios are 18 miles south.
The Giant Wheel is an iconic structure of Irvine Spectrum that has beautiful city views.
Balboa Island Art Walk is a great place for artist to get out and show their masterpieces.
Enjoy some barbecue at Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ in Lake Forest.
Dining options are plentiful at the Foothill Ranch Towne Center.
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Commute to Irvine or San Diego
Interstate 5 runs along the city's south side. Commuters can take it 10 miles west to Irvine, home to many of Orange County's tech and finance companies. Irvine Industrial Center borders the city's west side. It's home to many logistics centers, tech companies and manufacturers. The headquarters of Oakley Sunglasses is located on the city's north side, just off state Route 241. There are Orange County Transit Buses running on the city's main thoroughfares, but most residents rely on a car to get around. Downtown LA is about 50 miles up the 5, and San Diego is about 80 miles south. John Wayne Airport — just over 10 miles away in Santa Ana — is the closest spot for regional flights.
Silverado Fire precautions and low crime
This region’s dry Santa Ana winds can escalate wildfires and sometimes lead to evacuations. In October 2020, the Silverado Fire burned nearly 14,000 acres of forest and encroached into the Irvine area, incited by 80-mile-an-hour gusts. Southern residents just saw the smoke, but those in mountainside communities faced the blaze closer to home: of the 70,000 homes evacuated in greater Irvine, 6,000 of them were in Lake Forest. Residents should follow ordinances by the Orange County Fire Authority and CalFire, in addition to signing up for text notifications via AlertOC and Nixle.
According to FBI data, Lake Forest's crime rates are consistently well below state and national averages. Through 2023, Lake Forest had an average monthly violent crime rate of 39 offenses per 100,000 people, compared to California's monthly average of 104 offenses per 100,000 people.
Written By
Ed Coombs
Photography Contributed By
Darren Asay
Video By
Daniel Quattro
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Linda Fong,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Lake Forest, CA sell after 35 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Lake Forest, CA over the last 12 months is $1,198,500, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Single-Story Living in the heart of Lake Forest! Move right into this single-family detached residence with approximately 1,500 sq ft of spacious living. This turnkey, corner-lot home features 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths, a light-filled kitchen with all-new stainless appliances and a view of the great outdoors, vaulted ceilings upon entry, an open concept living area with cozy fireplace, custom
Wait, a condo with DIRECT GARAGE ACCESS that's oversized and EV-ready with room for storage? This condo understood the assignment! This charming lower-level unit sits at the end of the building and is ideal for those seeking a quieter and more peaceful living environment. The layout provides a sense of separation rarely found in attached homes and offers a very large outside patio and living
LARGE BACK YARD!!! This beautifully designed 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home offers a light and bright open floor plan with modern designer finishes throughout. The spacious layout includes a 3rd-floor bonus room that opens to a private walk-out patio deck, perfect for entertaining or relaxing with beautiful views. Situated on a premium corner lot, this property boasts one of the largest yards in the
Community Information Forest Gardens is a 5 Star Gated Community Close to Everything and Beautiful with Lakes and Geese. Winding Roads and Cul De Sac Homes, Lots of Trees & Grass, Large Clubhouse, Workout Area, Spa, PoolCommunity Amenities & Lifestyle: - Beautifully Landscaped & Peaceful Community - Experience quiet, well-maintained surroundings. - Resort-Style Pool & Spa - Perfect for
Community Information Forest Gardens is a 5 Star Gated Community Close to Everything and Beautiful with Lakes and Geese. Winding Roads and Cul De Sac Homes, Lots of Trees & Grass, Large Clubhouse, Workout Area, Spa, PoolCommunity Amenities & Lifestyle: - Beautifully Landscaped & Peaceful Community - Experience quiet, well-maintained surroundings. - Resort-Style Pool & Spa - Perfect for
Price to Sell -This home features two comfortable bedrooms and a full bathroom, offering ample space for relaxation and daily living. Step into the shaded backyard, complete with mature trees that provide natural beauty and create a cool, inviting outdoors. The property includes an attached two-car garage along with an expansive driveway, ensuring plenty of parking and storage
Welcome to Toll Brothers, the evergreens at the Meadows home, with soaring two-story great room and lots of windows bringing plenty of sunlight in the home! Gourmet kitchen complete with brand new stainless steel appliances (including refrigerator, 6 burner stove, dishwasher, microwave, oven), large center island with breakfast bar, plenty of counter and cabinet space, and ample pantry! First
Welcome to Your Lake Forest Retreat – Comfort and Lifestyle in One Package. This beautifully upgraded pool home sits on a spacious 7,200 Sq. ft lot with NO HOA and a LOW TAXES rate and PAID SOLAR, offering great value in a prime South OC location. Whether you're commuting from Los Angeles or Riverside county for your work in Orange county, this home is short drive to John Wayne Airport, the
This gorgeous home in fabulous ENCANTO tract. ENCANTO is located in the Foothills Ranch schools and Saddleback Valley USD. This energy efficient home is close to schools, shopping, freeway access and Irvine. This lovely single family detached home is nestled in a Gated Community with Driveway parking, neighborhood park and nearby walking trails. It's appointed with granite counter-top, shaker
Baker Ranch is a 1.5-square-mile master-planned community in the balmy and mountainous northwest of Lake Forest. Baker Ranch is just 10 miles east of Laguna Beach and its beaches on the Pacific Ocean and is just blocks west of trailheads leading up into the wilderness of the Saddleback Mountains. This small, incorporated city is a stable, family-oriented area with plenty of schools and amenities. Employment opportunities are plenty in this business-friendly city, and the major cities of Orange County are within 10 miles. "Baker Ranch is a super-modern, upscale community," says local Realtor Simone Paterno of Stark Team Real Estate. "It's a great community in a great location. It's super close to Irvine, so many people commute there for work."<br><br>Homes in Baker Ranch start in the high six figures for townhomes and go up to $3.5 million for palatial mansions. Paterno notes they were all built between 2017 and 2020. In the Brookland Subdivision, pretty Monterey-style townhomes have exterior stucco walls painted in subdued shades to match the arid Southern California landscape. Native shrubs and eucalyptus trees wind around the small outdoor spaces, and inside wooden cabinetry and large garages lend a luxurious feel to these smaller residences. Detached Monterey-style homes with two stories have roof decks looking out on the vast mountain range to the east. Clay roof tiles keep interiors cool, and adobe walls evoke a period of authenticity in these larger homes. Venetian balconies offer attractive ornaments, and gas fire pits on stone patios warm these outdoor-loving residents on chilly desert nights. The largest and most ornate homes in Baker Ranch are designed in a Mediterranean-Spanish hybrid with exterior walls made of smooth stone and interiors with 20-foot ceilings. Large arched picture windows and second-floor terraces supported by colonnades from which residents can enjoy expansive views of the hills and sky. Spiral staircases and outdoor porticos bring true luxury to these multi-bedroom residences.<br><br>Residents of the Baker Ranch HOA have access to various amenities, including three swimming pools, hiking and biking trails, eight parks with playgrounds designed with the same attention to detail as the home, different sporting courts and fields, dog parks and clubhouses where residents can gather. The Baker Ranch Community Park is city-run and the neighborhood's largest park. It includes several sporting fields and barbecue areas for picnicking. Just a few blocks north of the community, past State Route 241, the main eastern thoroughfare, a trailhead to Red Rock Canyon leads into the 25,000-acre parkland wilderness of the Irvine Ranch Open Space. "There are lots of hiking trails. The Barranca Trail is right there," says Paterno. The Foothill Ranch Towne Center borders the northern edge of Baker Ranch, offering department and specialty stores, upscale and fast-food restaurants and a movie theater. An In-N-Out, a branch of Los Angeles restaurant Islands, a Target and a Walmart round out the amenities.<br><br>The Saddleback Valley Unified School District offers dual language immersion and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. It is considered one of the top 650 school districts in America by the school rankings website Niche. Foothill Ranch Elementary School is the closest to Baker Ranch. The school received an A grade from the site. Serrano Intermediate School and El Toro High School received A-minus grades from Niche. Being 60 miles from Los Angeles, 80 miles from San Diego, 10 miles from the beach, and just three blocks from the mountains makes Baker Ranch an excellent option for homebuyers looking for a beautiful, stable place just outside the major cities of Southern California.
Property Mix - Square Feet
Lake Forest Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
81,561
Median Age
41
Population under 18
23.3%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
17.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$128,267
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$152,804
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.8%
College Graduates
50.9%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
18.1%
% Population in Labor Force
71.3%
Above the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
14''
Average Winter Low Temperature
43°F
Average Summer High Temperature
85°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®®
23/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®®
51/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
