2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lake Forest, IL vs DeKalb, IL

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Highlights
Are people in DeKalb older or younger than people in Lake Forest?
- The Median Age in DeKalb is 21.3 years younger than in Lake Forest.

Are housing costs cheaper in DeKalb or Lake Forest?
- DeKalb housing costs are 77.1% less expensive than Lake Forest housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, DeKalb or Lake Forest?
- The average commute for residents of DeKalb is 10.1 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Lake Forest.

Things to do in Lake Forest?
Lake Forest, Illinois is a vibrant city located in Lake County. With its many shops and restaurants, it’s the perfect destination for those seeking an enjoyable night out or a fun day of shopping. For outdoor fans, Lake Forest offers beautiful parks and trails, plus beaches along the shore of Lake Michigan. Families looking to move to the area can rest assured that there are multiple schools with outstanding educational programs. Lake Forest has something to offer everyone — whether you’re a nature lover or just looking for a great place to live.

Things to do in DeKalb?
DeKalb, Illinois sits within DeKalb County providing visitors great culture attractions from Egyptian Theater to Northern Illinois University Convocation Center as well as plenty of restaurants like Kishwaukee Tap.

 Lake Forest, ILDeKalb, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock41,083329,725,481
 Median Income$194,267  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock25.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$898,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.0%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.2  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Lake Forest    4 Reviews

We relocated cross county to Lake Forest about a year ago due to a job change. We looked at nearby communities, within proximity of the work commute (the office is in  More

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Be prepared for a so called upscale town with entitled, overpaid, snooty people from teenagers who sneer at you to adults who look you up and down, who make demands on a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Long cold winters, short cold springs, hot humid summers, nice  More

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Reviews for Dekalb    2 Reviews

Over 17 years ago

While I love the cheaper rents then in the closer suburbs (to Chicago), the lack of high paying jobs for anyone without high degrees (Masters or higher) is  More

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As a 37 year resident of DeKalb - an escapee of the Chicago suburbs, I am pleased to write a bit about my hometown. Originally a college town in a farming community,  More

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