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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
West Des Moines, IA vs Lake Forest, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in West Des Moines is 31.0% younger than the median age of a home in Lake Forest.
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age29  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$937,500$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months15.8%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock48.3%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.68.7%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$6.8$11.0
 Homes Owned54.7%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock5.0%11.2%
 Homes Rented38.8%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$3,820$1,840
 Studio Apartment$900  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,370$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,220  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$3,870$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$1,700  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock1.1%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.8%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.5%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.3%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock1.0%3.6%
 Vacant Other1.3%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock0.7%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.5%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.4%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.6%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock1.1%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,99911.4%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock0.5%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,99932.3%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock7.5%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9997.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock29.6%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,9991.5%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock7.2%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,9990.1%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock1.1%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 West Des Moines, IALake Forest, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.1%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock1.8%13.6%
 2000 to 200916.4%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock18.1%13.6%
 1980 to 198915.6%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock31.1%14.8%
 1960 to 196919.9%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock0.8%10.0%
 1940 to 19491.5%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock0.3%12.2%
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Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews
Hazel  · West Des Moines, IA
West Des Moines IA
Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Abhd · New York, NY
overall life style
Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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Abhd · West Des Moines, IA
Plenty to do in Des Moines area
Over 18 years ago

We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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Reviews for Lake Forest    16 Reviews
Mark · Lake Forest, CA
Cheaper than Irvine, nice place for families.
Over 1 years ago

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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Macguy · Lake Forest, CA
Great place to live if you can afford it
Over 5 years ago

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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Kevin · Lake Forest, CA
Lake Forest is a great place to live ACTUALLY
Over 5 years ago

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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Learn More About West Des Moines, Iowa
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Learn More About Lake Forest, California
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