Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lake Forest, CA vs San Clemente, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Lake Forest needs about $83,000 in San Clemente to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from San Clemente, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $87,000 in Lake Forest.
A few differences
- San Clemente is higher on median household income ($140,062 vs $135,175).
- Lake Forest is lower on cost of living index (158 vs 182).
- San Clemente is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,572/mo vs $2,747/mo).
Lake Forest vs San Clemente · facet by facet
| Facet | Lake Forest, CA | San Clemente, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $937,000 | $1,398,400 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,747/mo | $2,572/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 158 | 182 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $135,175 | $140,062 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Lake Forest, CA · San Clemente, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Lake Forest cheaper than San Clemente?
- Lake Forest has the lower day-to-day cost index (158 vs 182 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in San Clemente equals $85,000 in Lake Forest?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lake Forest needs about $83,000 in San Clemente to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of San Clemente lifestyle costs about $87,000 in Lake Forest.