Lake Forest, CA vs Paterson, NJ

Lake Forest is safer with a higher safety score by 23 points. Lake Forest, CA has a safety score of 80/100 while Paterson, NJ has 57/100, based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Lake Forest, CA has a violent crime rate of 145.7 per 100,000 residents, while Paterson, NJ has 978.6 per 100,000. Lower rates indicate safer communities. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Lake Forest, CA has a property crime rate of 829.7 per 100,000, compared to 2351.1 per 100,000 in Paterson, NJ. Property crimes include burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft.

Safety scores range from 0-100, combining violent crime rates, property crime rates, and population data from the FBI UCR. Higher scores mean safer cities. Grades: A (80+), B (65-79), C (50-64), D (40-49), F (below 40).

Based on crime data alone, Lake Forest is safer. However, safety is just one factor — also consider cost of living, job market, schools, and quality of life. Visit our city pages for more details on each.