Lake Forest Ranks in Top 10 of America's 50 Best Cities to Live

LAKE FOREST, CA — Do you live in Lake Forest? Across America, people are wishing they did, too.

With a booming local economy, population of under 90,000 residents and median home values under $600,000 the city of Lake Forest was named 9th in a recent poll of America's 50 Best Cities to Live conducted by 24/7 Wall St.

In the poll, 550 cities were considered, all with populations over 65,000 residents in 2015. Data reviewed included nine major categories:

• crime
• demography
• economy
• education
• environment
• health
• housing
• infrastructure
• leisure.

According to the report, Lake Forest's local economy fares better than much of the country by a number of measures. The average household income is higher than the national average and the city has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

Less than 10-percent of the population lives in poverty, less than the 15.3-percent statewide average. Just under half of all residents of Lake Forest have achieved their Bachelor's Degree or higher.

"Economic prosperity is partially attributable to the presence of several large companies employing thousands of Lake Forest residents," the report stated.

The largest of those companies are sports equipment manufacturer, Oakley, electronics manufacturer, Panasonic, and home mortgage company, LoanDepot.

Crime in Lake Forest is scarce, both in property and violent crimes, with less than half of the corresponding national percentage for a city with population this size.

Rounding out the top 10 America's Best Cities in which to Live:

• 10: North Richland Hills, Texas
• 9: Lake Forest, California
• 8: O'Fallon, Missouri
• 7: Peoria, Arizona
• 6: Fishers, Indiana
• 5: Lee's Summit, Missouri
• 4: John's Creek, Georgia
• 3: Richardson, Texas
• 2: Meridian, Idaho
• 1: Broomfield, Colorado

Image, courtesy City of Lake Forest