Jersey City, 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.
Jersey City
66.9
#1486 nationally
Lake Forest
65.3
#1638 nationally
Jersey City leads in walk score (86 vs 41). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($128,358 vs $87,961). Lake Forest leads in average commute (24.6 min vs 35.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Lake Forest, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.9 (#1486) | 65.3 (#1638) |
| Population | 292,449 | 85,840 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $670,166 | $1,187,225 |
| Median Household Income | $87,961 | $128,358 |
| Average Commute | 35.8 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | 86 | 41 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 4.0 |
| School Rating | 5.8 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 128 | 181 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+28.1 | D+2.6 |
D
66.9 Score
Jersey City, NJ
Manhattan views without Manhattan prices
Median Home
$670,166
Population
292,449
Crime
Moderate
Schools
C+
Northeast
View Jersey City, 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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