2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Berkeley, CA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Lake Forest older or younger than people in Berkeley?
- The Median Age in Lake Forest is 8.0 years older than in Berkeley.

Are housing costs cheaper in Lake Forest or Berkeley?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 29.0% less expensive than Berkeley housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Lake Forest or Berkeley?
- The average commute for residents of Lake Forest is 2.7 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Berkeley.

Things to do in Berkeley?
Berkeley, California is a vibrant city in the San Francisco Bay Area. It's home to many educational and cultural attractions, such as the University of California at Berkeley, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and live music venues like The Greek Theater. Recreational activities are plentiful as well; visitors can take in views of the Bay from Tilden Regional Park or enjoy a day of sun at Berkeley Marina. Shopping options range from local boutiques to some of the finest retail stores in Northern California while dining experiences could take you anywhere from gourmet restaurants to street food vendors. Whether you’re looking for a place to call home or just some entertainment, Berkeley won't disappoint!

Things to do in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest, California markets itself as the ultimate Southern California lifestyle with numerous parks, shopping centers, and miles of trails giving visitors plenty of options for an active lifestyle.

 Berkeley, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock85,516329,725,481
 Median Income$97,834  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock40.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,320,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time28.74  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Berkeley    14 Reviews

Have lived in Berkeley for about 35 years now. Housing/Real Estate: If you're looking to move here, $1,000,000 will get you a small cottage in the "flats". Most of  More

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Over 12 years ago

We have the best climate -- summers and winters are mild. Lots of  More

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Over 14 years ago

The 60's have left Berkeley and now it is about MONEY...and the people there have plenty of it and nice hybrid cars (looks like 2 per household) and with a great bicycle  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    16 Reviews

I've lived in Lake Forest for over a decade, before that elsewhere in OC and also up in LA. Lake Forest isn't perfect but it's really improved over the past decade,  More

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As a retired senior who has lived in Lake Forest (formerly El Toro) since 1977 I think LF is a great place if you can afford it. When we moved here in June '77 homes  More

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I’ve lived here for 2 years. Ok, it’s more like a 4 but there are so many idiots downplaying what it’s like here and giving Lake Forest ones and twos. There are a lot of  More

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