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

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Lake Forest or is it cheaper to live in Waltham?
- Lake Forest is 33.0% less expensive than Waltham.

Which city has more affordable housing, Lake Forest or Waltham?
- Lake Forest housing costs are 17.9% more expensive than Waltham housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Waltham or is Health Care more affordable in Lake Forest.
- Health related expenses are 8.0% more in Lake Forest.
 Waltham, MALake Forest, ILUnited States
 Overall  Unlock97.0100
 Food & Groceries112.2  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock96.3100
 Housing242.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$898,600$338,100
 Utilities120  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock93.7100
 Miscellaneous177.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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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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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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