Cambridge, MA vs Lake Forest, IL
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.
Cambridge
70.6
#1085 nationally
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Cambridge leads in walk score (87 vs 18). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $115,892). Cambridge leads in average commute (27.8 min vs 34.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Lake Forest, IL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70.6 (#1085) | 66.3 (#1557) |
| Population | 117,090 | 19,354 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,055,780 | $1,246,873 |
| Median Household Income | $115,892 | $202,153 |
| Average Commute | 27.8 min | 34.5 min |
| Walk Score | 87 | 18 |
| Crime Level | Low | 0.6 |
| School Rating | 8.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 172 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.5 | D+20.8 |
C-
70.6 Score
Cambridge, MA
Academic powerhouse across the Charles
Median Home
$1,055,780
Population
117,090
Crime
Low
Schools
A
Northeast
View Cambridge, MA →
D
66.3 Score
Lake Forest, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,246,873
Population
19,354
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
18
Midwest
View Lake Forest, IL →
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