Bellevue, WA vs Lake Forest, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Bellevue
69.5
#1192 nationally
Lake Forest
65.3
#1638 nationally
Bellevue leads in walk score (55 vs 41). Bellevue leads in median household income ($145,892 vs $128,358). Lake Forest leads in average commute (24.6 min vs 26.4 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Lake Forest, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.5 (#1192) | 65.3 (#1638) |
| Population | 154,331 | 85,840 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,451,887 | $1,187,225 |
| Median Household Income | $145,892 | $128,358 |
| Average Commute | 26.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | 55 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 4.0 |
| School Rating | 9.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 175 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+51.7 | D+2.6 |
D+
69.5 Score
Bellevue, WA
Eastside excellence
Median Home
$1,451,887
Population
154,331
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Bellevue, WA →
D
65.3 Score
Lake Forest, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,187,225
Population
85,840
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
41
Pacific
View Lake Forest, CA →
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