2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lake Forest, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 11.1 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or Lake Forest?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 35.6% more expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 2.6 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 Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz, California is an incredible city located in the heart of the Monterey Bay area. This beautiful city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the stunning natural beaches or the charming downtown area. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available at Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park, and Seymour Marine Discovery Center. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Santa Cruz their home.

 Lake Forest, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$117,374  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$937,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%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 Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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