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

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Highlights
Are people in Arcata older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in Arcata is 13.2 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Arcata or Lake Forest?
- Arcata housing costs are 52.6% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Arcata or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of Arcata is 9.0 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Lake Forest.

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.

Things to do in Arcata?
Nestled on California’s North Coast just south of Eureka, Arcata offers visitors an array of natural beauty from redwood forests to rugged coastline along with world-class dining experiences like the Alice Copper Restaurant & Brewery. The city hosts a variety of cultural attractions year round from art galleries to live music venues making it a great destination for everyone.

 Lake Forest, CAArcata, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,038329,725,481
 Median Income$117,374  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$937,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time26  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Arcata    17 Reviews

Pros: Nature hikes Cons: One of highest crime rates in the nation. Opioid epidemic going on (you’ll regularly witness drug deals and ppl doing drugs) No  More

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It takes a special set of preferences to select Arcata. Is this you? - You love clouds and fog. You are happy if you see the sun maybe 10-20 times a year. - Chilly  More

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Over 11 years ago

I've lived in Humboldt for over 30 yrs and know all the areas well. Arcata is the jewel of Humboldt due to having a university and many liberal creative people. There is  More

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