Lake Forest, CA Demographics

A map of Lake Forest's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	38,065	40,506	44.1%	47.2%
Hispanic	23,253	21,945	27.0%	25.6%
Asian	16,970	16,650	19.7%	19.4%
Multiracial	4,753	4,698	5.5%	5.5%
Black	2,086	1,312	2.4%	1.5%
Native American/Other	1,154	747	1.3%	0.9%

Lake Forest, California has an estimated population of 86,281, a less than 1% change from the 85,858 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 44.1% White, 27.0% Hispanic, 19.7% Asian, 5.5% Multiracial, 2.4% Black, and 1.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lake Forest, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lake Forest has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is slightly less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Lake Forest, that probability was 67.1% in 2020 and 69.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lake Forest is ranked the 97th most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Lake Forest was ranked the 99th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Lake Forest's White Population

38,065 residents of Lake Forest, or 44.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lake Forest is considerably higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Lake Forest ranks 981st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's White population has declined by an estimated 6.0%. White residents' share of Lake Forest's population has decreased from 47.2% to 44.1%.

Lake Forest is less White than neighboring Mission Viejo (59.1% White), Modjeska (83.5% White), Laguna Hills (52.8% White), Williams Canyon (52.1% White), and Laguna Woods (67.4% White).

Lake Forest's Black Population

2,086 residents of Lake Forest, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lake Forest is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Lake Forest ranks 541st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's Black population has grown by an estimated 59.0%. Black residents' share of Lake Forest's population has increased from 1.5% to 2.4%.

Lake Forest is more Black than neighboring Mission Viejo (1% Black), Modjeska (0% Black), Laguna Hills (0.9% Black), Williams Canyon (0% Black), and Laguna Woods (0.6% Black).

Lake Forest's Asian Population

16,970 residents of Lake Forest, or 19.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lake Forest is slightly higher than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Lake Forest ranks 142nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's Asian population has grown by an estimated 1.9%. Asian residents' share of Lake Forest's population has remained roughly unchanged at 19.7%.

Lake Forest is more Asian than neighboring Mission Viejo (14.2% Asian), Modjeska (0.8% Asian), Laguna Hills (16% Asian), and Williams Canyon (0% Asian). Lake Forest is less Asian than neighboring Laguna Woods (22.8% Asian).

Lake Forest's Hispanic Population

23,253 residents of Lake Forest, or 27.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lake Forest is considerably lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Lake Forest ranks 745th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Lake Forest's population has increased from 25.6% to 27.0%.

Lake Forest is more Hispanic than neighboring Mission Viejo (20% Hispanic), Modjeska (8.8% Hispanic), Laguna Hills (23% Hispanic), and Laguna Woods (5.9% Hispanic). Lake Forest is less Hispanic than neighboring Williams Canyon (47.9% Hispanic).

Lake Forest's Native American/Other Population

1,154 residents of Lake Forest, or 1.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lake Forest is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Lake Forest ranks 1147th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 54.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lake Forest's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Lake Forest is more Native American/Other than neighboring Mission Viejo (0.3% Native American/Other), Laguna Hills (0.5% Native American/Other), Williams Canyon (0% Native American/Other), and Laguna Woods (1.1% Native American/Other). Lake Forest is less Native American/Other than neighboring Modjeska (2.2% Native American/Other).

Lake Forest's Multiracial Population

4,753 residents of Lake Forest, or 5.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lake Forest is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Lake Forest ranks 600th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Forest's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 1.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Lake Forest's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.5%.

Lake Forest is more Multiracial than neighboring Mission Viejo (5.4% Multiracial), Modjeska (4.6% Multiracial), Williams Canyon (0% Multiracial), and Laguna Woods (2.1% Multiracial). Lake Forest is less Multiracial than neighboring Laguna Hills (6.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.