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

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Highlights
Are people in Goleta older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in Goleta is 5.1 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Goleta or Lake Forest?
- Goleta housing costs are 25.7% more expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Goleta or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of Goleta is 9.7 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 Goleta?
Goleta CA can be found north Santa Barbara full of scenic routes perfect for bike rides such as Camino Cielo Loop showcasing some breathtaking views alongside private gardens, art galleries & wineries giving vacationers a chance to explore area's culture.

 Lake Forest, CAGoleta, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock32,677329,725,481
 Median Income$117,374  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock3538.4
 Avg. Home Price$937,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.9%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 Goleta    2 Reviews

Lived in this area 2014-now (2022), Goleta for 4 years of that. Pros: *The climate is unbeatable, unless you enjoy being overly hot or cold, or snow sports which  More

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I live in Goleta and work part-time in Santa Barbara. I am semi-retired and have a decent income. Making wise choices of where to spend my income has always been  More

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