Elmwood Park, NJ 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.
Elmwood Park
62
#1879 nationally
Lake Forest
65.3
#1638 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (4.0 vs 6.1). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($128,358 vs $84,578). Elmwood Park leads in walk score (56 vs 41).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Elmwood Park, NJ | Lake Forest, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62 (#1879) | 65.3 (#1638) |
| Population | 21,256 | 85,840 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $628,943 | $1,187,225 |
| Median Household Income | $84,578 | $128,358 |
| Average Commute | 25.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | 56 | 41 |
| Crime Level | 6.1 | 4.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 136 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+3.4 | D+2.6 |
Data coverage note: Elmwood Park is missing data for 1 metric that Lake Forest has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D-
62 Score
Elmwood Park, NJ
Small New Jersey city with local appeal
Median Home
$628,943
Population
21,256
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
56
Northeast
View Elmwood Park, NJ →
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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