2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lake Forest, CA vs Madison, WI

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Highlights
Are people in Madison older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in Madison is 8.6 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Madison or Lake Forest?
- Madison housing costs are 64.0% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Madison or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of Madison is 6.6 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 Madison?
Madison, Wisconsin is a vibrant city with a unique mix of culture and history. Take a stroll through State Street and explore the city's many art galleries, bookstores and some of the best restaurants in the Midwest. Visit University of Wisconsin-Madison for some stunning architecture and inspiring scientific research, or take in an outdoor concert at Breese Stevens Field. With its beautiful lakeshore backdrop, lively farmers markets, and incredible cultural events,Madison is an ideal place to live and visit!

 Lake Forest, CAMadison, WIUnited States
 Population  Unlock265,447329,725,481
 Median Income$117,374  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock31.538.4
 Avg. Home Price$937,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.3%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 Madison    78 Reviews

Unfortunately, a number of these reviews are politically based. Madison remains the only shining star in Wisconsin’s economy. The economy is broadly based, with  More

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Have been living in Madison for almost 3 years. It’s very safe, ppl generally friendly and for a town of its size it has fair number of good restaurants and interesting  More

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Lacks balance and zero accountability.   More

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