2026 Compare Cities Economy:
Orange, CA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Lake Forest, is 15% more than it is in Orange and is 41% above the National Average.
- Orange unemployment rate is 6.0%.
- Lake Forest unemployment rate is 5.6%.
 Orange, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock0.6%1.6%
 Future Job Growth31.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes7.8%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$44,157  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$117,374$69,021
 Family Median Income$114,807  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Orange, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock4.9%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K1.7%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock2.9%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K4.7%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock4.1%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K5.5%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock6.9%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.1%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock19.0%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K13.1%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock22.5%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Orange, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance19.2%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock11.3%6.5%
 Community, social services1.8%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock1.4%1.2%
 Education, library6.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock2.8%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.2%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock3.1%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement2.0%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock4.4%5.4%
 Building maintenance2.9%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.1%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support22.1%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.2%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair6.7%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock7.8%13.1%
Reviews for Orange    13 Reviews

Southern California is a wonderful place to live (if you can afford it). Currently, we are a family of 3- myself, my husband and our son. We are FINALLY thinking it may  More

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Over 16 years ago

Numerous highly rated hospitals are located within a 20 mile radius. Variety of hospitals include specialty, such as Childrens Hospital of Orange County; private;  More

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Over 16 years ago

The Weather is great. However, the housing, jobs, schools and the State Government is  More

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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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