2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Charleston, SC vs Lake Forest, IL

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Highlights
Are people in Lake Forest older or younger than people in Charleston?
- The Median Age in Lake Forest is 10.9 years older than in Charleston.

Are housing costs cheaper in Lake Forest or Charleston?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 82.2% more expensive than Charleston housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Lake Forest or Charleston?
- The average commute for residents of Lake Forest is 9.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Charleston.

Things to do in Charleston?
Charleston, South Carolina is a vibrant and beautiful city located in the southeastern United States. Here locals and visitors alike can enjoy the city’s unique culture, architecture, food, beaches and historical sites. The city offers plenty of activities from taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of historic downtown to exploring one of the many museums or visiting some of the area’s popular attractions like Fort Sumter or Patriots Point. With its excellent schools, thriving businesses and plenty of recreational opportunities it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Charleston their home. There are also numerous dining options, shopping centers and entertainment venues available for those looking for some fun!

Things to do in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest, Illinois is a vibrant city located in Lake County. With its many shops and restaurants, it’s the perfect destination for those seeking an enjoyable night out or a fun day of shopping. For outdoor fans, Lake Forest offers beautiful parks and trails, plus beaches along the shore of Lake Michigan. Families looking to move to the area can rest assured that there are multiple schools with outstanding educational programs. Lake Forest has something to offer everyone — whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a great place to live.

 Charleston, SCLake Forest, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,450329,725,481
 Median Income$76,556  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock46.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$493,200  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.4%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time22.11  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Charleston    76 Reviews

Over 2 years ago

Charleston is beautiful and unique and incredibly special. If you don't believe me, just ask Anthony Bourdain in his Parts Unknown episode - and he was an insightful  More

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Serious lack of health care and "good old boys club" whereby doctors will not even see the patient but diagnose them based on referring doctor. My sister died there for  More

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Over 5 years ago

Boy, has this once beautiful town changed...for the worse! I initially moved here 20 years ago because the people were so nice, no traffic, great choice of hospitals,  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    4 Reviews

We relocated cross county to Lake Forest about a year ago due to a job change. We looked at nearby communities, within proximity of the work commute (the office is in  More

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Be prepared for a so called upscale town with entitled, overpaid, snooty people from teenagers who sneer at you to adults who look you up and down, who make demands on a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Long cold winters, short cold springs, hot humid summers, nice  More

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