2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Lake Forest, CA vs Waltham, MA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Waltham or is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest?
- Waltham is 12.2% less expensive than Lake Forest.

Which city has more affordable housing, Waltham or Lake Forest?
- Waltham housing costs are 19.3% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest or is Health Care more affordable in Waltham.
- Health related expenses are 4.5% less in Waltham.
 Lake Forest, CAWaltham, MAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock144.7100
 Food & Groceries103.6  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock89.2100
 Housing300.0  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$681,600$338,100
 Utilities102  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock94.4100
 Miscellaneous155.9  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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 Waltham    2 Reviews

Over 15 years ago

My husband and I moved from west of Worcester to Waltham a few months ago and are really enjoying life here. We're situated in an apartment close to Moody Street and  More

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Waltham is home to two well respected colleges/universities: Bentley and Brandeis. That, however, is not all. For within half an hour or so, by commuter train or car,  More

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