Lake Forest, IL vs Melissa, TX
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.
Lake Forest
66.3
#1557 nationally
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Lake Forest leads in crime level (0.6 vs 1.0). Lake Forest leads in median household income ($202,153 vs $138,465). Melissa leads in cost of living index (125 vs 178).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lake Forest, IL | Melissa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.3 (#1557) | 74.8 (#551) |
| Population | 19,354 | 23,571 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,246,873 | $430,394 |
| Median Household Income | $202,153 | $138,465 |
| Average Commute | 34.5 min | 32.6 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+20.8 | R+11.2 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Lake Forest has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →
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