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

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Highlights
Are people in Lake Forest older or younger than people in Palatine?
- The Median Age in Lake Forest is 8.2 years older than in Palatine.

Are housing costs cheaper in Lake Forest or Palatine?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 194.0% more expensive than Palatine housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Lake Forest or Palatine?
- The average commute for residents of Lake Forest is 2.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Palatine.

Things to do in Palatine?
Palatine, Illinois is a vibrant village located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. This vibrant community offers its residents plenty of amenities and activities for all ages. From great schools to endless dining and shopping opportunities, Palatine is truly a great place to live. There's also lots of outdoor recreation to be enjoyed at nearby Deer Grove Forest Preserve and Busse Woods, plus a plethora of cultural attractions such as The cutting Hall Performing Arts Center. With its excellent quality of life and numerous job opportunities, Palatine is the ideal location to call home!

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.

 Palatine, ILLake Forest, ILUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,450329,725,481
 Median Income$86,415  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock46.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$305,600  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.4%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time29.11  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Palatine    7 Reviews

No town is perfect. One flaw in Palatine are that it lacks enough updated, healthier food restaurants. A more serious flaw is that the elementary district does not  More

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Over 15 years ago

The correct total Sales Tax Rate for Palatine, Cook County, IL is 9.5%, not  More

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Over 15 years ago

Palatine is a great community for raising a family. Good schools and extremely low crime rate just add to that point. Minutes to Schaumburg and all the shopping and  More

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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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