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Lake Forest, Illinois property tax

Typical rate and yearly bill in Lake Forest, compared with Lake County. Census survey 2020-2024.

Estimate my bill
Typical rate1.07%+at least, see note below
Typical yearly bill$10,000+Census caps this figure
Median home value$938,300owner-occupied homes
vs Lake County-1.51 ptscounty 2.58% · typical bill $8,923

Estimate your Lake Forest bill

Not sure of your home value?

Use what you paid if you bought recently, or the market value on your county tax bill or assessment notice (most county assessor websites let you search by address). Recent sales of similar homes nearby work too. The box starts at the typical home value in Lake Forest, so you can also just press Calculate.

Estimated yearly property tax
How we got this

Your city, school district and exemptions can move the real bill 10 to 20% either way.

If your home is worthYearly taxMonthly

The Census survey records the typical bill in Lake Forest only as "$10,000 or more", so the 1.07% rate here is a floor. Real bills on a typical home are likely higher, so treat this estimate as a minimum.

How Lake Forest compares

Lake County
2.58%
Waukegan
2.49%
Buffalo Grove
2.43%
Illinois
2.01%
Highland Park
1.65%
Lake Forest
1.07%
United States
0.94%

Think your bill is too high?

Divide your yearly tax by your home's market value. If your result is well above what neighbors with similar homes pay, your assessed value may be too high or an exemption may be missing.

  1. Check the market value on your notice against recent sales nearby.
  2. Make sure every exemption you qualify for is listed, starting with the homestead exemption.
  3. File an appeal before the deadline. Filing is usually free or costs little.
How to appeal, step by stepHow to read your billHomestead exemptions

Property tax in Lake Forest, in plain words

Homeowners in Lake Forest typically pay $10,000+ a year in property tax on a home worth $938,300, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2020-2024. That works out to an effective rate of about 1.07% of home value, though the survey caps one of those figures here, so treat it as approximate.

That rate is lower than Lake County as a whole (2.58%) and lower than the Illinois typical rate of 2.01%. Across the US, the typical rate is 0.94%.

Your own bill depends on your home's assessed value, the exact school district and special districts at your address, and any exemptions you claim. Your Lake County tax office has the final number.

Common questions

What is the property tax rate in Lake Forest?

The typical effective rate is about 1.07% of home value per year, based on what homeowners report paying.

How much is property tax on a $400,000 home in Lake Forest?

About $4,260 a year at the typical rate. Exemptions and your exact district can move it either way.

Is Lake Forest higher or lower than Lake County?

Lake Forest's typical rate (1.07%) is lower than the county's (2.58%).

Homestead exemptions · How to appeal · Where these numbers come from

Other places in Lake County

Lake County
Waukegan2.49%$4,759Buffalo Grove2.43%$10,000+Highland Park1.65%$10,000+Gurnee2.47%$8,491Mundelein2.71%$8,404Vernon Hills2.43%$10,000+Round Lake Beach2.89%$5,765Grayslake3.23%$10,000+Deerfield1.60%$10,000+Libertyville1.95%$10,000+Lake Zurich2.12%$9,217Zion3.33%$6,120