2025 Compare Cities Job Market:
Santa Maria, CA vs Lake Forest, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Job Growth in Lake Forest has been positive.
- Lake Forest has 6.0% more unemployment than Santa Maria.
- Lake Forest job growth has increased by 7.2% in the past 10 years.
 Santa Maria, CALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Future Job Growth24.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-9.6%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth-1.9%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock-3.1%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth7.1%  Unlock6.3%
Reviews for Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

   |    Reply

I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

   |    Reply

The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Maria

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Lake Forest


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.