2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Lake Forest, CA vs Irvine, CA

Change Cities

Rankings for Lake Forest

Lake Forest Ranked
#2 Most Comfortable Summer Cities
When it comes to summer and its accompanying hot weather, there are so many beautiful things - beach days, barbecues, revea... Read More

Lake Forest Ranked
#2 Top 10 Cities to Beat the Heat
The BestPlaces Summer Comfort Index considers seven climate variables, including total precipitation, daily minimum and... Read More

Lake Forest Ranked
#43 Best Cities for Board Gamers
The data team at BestPlaces.net calculated each metro area’s Board Gamer Score based on board game interest and sales from th... Read More

Lake Forest Ranked
#47 Gloomiest Places in America
The data team at BestPlaces.net determined each metro area’s Gloom Score by looking at three key environmental factors for the m... Read More

Lake Forest Ranked
#50 America's Top Hygge Cities
Hygge is the Danish concept of creating cozy environments that foster well-being and contentment. Many Americans have eagerly ado... Read More

Rankings for Irvine

Irvine Ranked
#2 Most Comfortable Summer Cities
When it comes to summer and its accompanying hot weather, there are so many beautiful things - beach days, barbecues, revea... Read More

Irvine Ranked
#2 Top 10 Cities to Beat the Heat
The BestPlaces Summer Comfort Index considers seven climate variables, including total precipitation, daily minimum and... Read More

Irvine Ranked
#43 Best Cities for Board Gamers
The data team at BestPlaces.net calculated each metro area’s Board Gamer Score based on board game interest and sales from th... Read More

Irvine Ranked
#47 Gloomiest Places in America
The data team at BestPlaces.net determined each metro area’s Gloom Score by looking at three key environmental factors for the m... Read More

Irvine Ranked
#50 America's Top Hygge Cities
Hygge is the Danish concept of creating cozy environments that foster well-being and contentment. Many Americans have eagerly ado... Read More

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Lake Forest

Reviews for Irvine    42 Reviews

We've lived in Irvine since '87. We have raised two children within the ISUD. Both are grown up. Sure, there have been many changes since then.. the City has  More

   |    Reply

I've lived in Irvine for 2 years and in Orange County for 10 so I'm pretty familiar with the area by now and all it has to offer. Perhaps my review of this place has  More

   |    Reply

I wouldn't live elsewhere. I originally moved to Irvine in 2002 from the Midwest, not knowing what it even was. I left and moved around a great deal locally in OC,  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Irvine


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.