How much does it cost to rent in Lake Forest, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Lake Forest, CA is $3,299. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lake Forest cheaper than other California cities?

Lake Forest is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #105 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,299/mo.

When was Lake Forest rent data last updated?

Lake Forest rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Lake Forest

Name: Average Rent Prices in Lake Forest, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 86,281·105th most expensive in California·Lake Forest rents are up 10.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,299/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$1,334

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lake Forest · $3,299

More expensive than 94% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Lake Forest's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,299/mo

Expected by trend

$3,313/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Lake Forest's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,675

1 BR

$2,795

2 BR

$3,305

3 BR

$4,470

4 BR+

$5,345

Research median

$3,305/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$39,588/yr

At $3,299/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.4% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lake Forest, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 50.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

86,281

Median income

$135,175

Median age

40.2

Renters

29.5%

Age distribution

21.3%

20.6%

30.3%

13%

14.8%

Under 1821.3%

18–3420.6%

35–5430.3%

55–6413%

65+14.8%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

48.2%

27%

20%

White48.2%

Black2.5%

Hispanic27%

Asian20%

Other2.4%

Education (25+)

15.7%

27.5%

50.8%

No HS diploma6%

HS diploma15.7%

Some college27.5%

Bachelor's+50.8%

Housing tenure

70.5%

29.5%

Owner70.5%

Renter29.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Lake Forest, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,283 → $3,299

up 44.5%

Income

$117,374 → $135,175

up 15.2%

Population

85,516 → 86,281

up 0.9%

Renter share

29.4% → 29.5%

+0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

48.7% → 50.8%

+2.1 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Lake Forest, CA has increased by $1,016 per month, settling near $3,299 after starting the period at $2,283. On the earnings side, the typical household in Lake Forest, CA now reports about $135,175, up from $117,374 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 29.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 48.7% to 50.8%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Lake Forest, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Lake Forest

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View Lake Forest rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lake Forest on your salary?

At $3,299/mo, how Lake Forest rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 35.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 50% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 43.4% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 24.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 53.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 59.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 48% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Lake Forest rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Lake Forest. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lake Forest

About renting in Lake Forest, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Lake Forest is $3,299/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,675/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,305/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,795/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,470/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($135,175/yr), Lake Forest ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lake Forest an affordable city for renters?

Lake Forest is considered affordable for renters. At $3,299/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($135,175/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lake Forest falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Lake Forest?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $132,000/year (~$63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,299/mo in Lake Forest. The local median household income is $135,175/yr, meaning the typical Lake Forest household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lake Forest?

Rent in Lake Forest has increased 10.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Lake Forest neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Lake Forest are 92630 ($3,260/mo), and 92610 ($3,270/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Lake Forest is $3,299/mo.

How does Lake Forest rent compare to other cities in California?

Lake Forest is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #105 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,299/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lake Forest?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Lake Forest ($3,299/mo): Laguna Woods ($2,894/mo), Rancho Santa Margarita ($2,910/mo), Laguna Hills ($3,048/mo).

What percentage of Lake Forest residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 29.5% of Lake Forest households are renters, while 70.5% are owner-occupied. Lake Forest leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lake Forest rent compare to the national average?

Lake Forest's median rent of $3,299/mo is $1,334 (68%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #105 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $3,299/mo, rent takes ~29% of Lake Forest's median household income ($135,175/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lake Forest 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Lake Forest affordability calculator →

Nearby cities