At a Glance
Median Income
$89,879
$45,527 per capita
Home Value
$375,900
Zillow: $414,576
Median Rent
$1,379/mo
30.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
147/100K
3,050/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
35.7%
93.3% high school+
Unemployment
3.3%
4.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.1%
13.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F
270 sunny days/yr
How Forest Lake Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Forest Lake's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Forest Lake a Good Place to Live?
B
3.4 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Forest Lake residents earn a median household income of $89,879 , which is 20% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $45,527. The unemployment rate stands at 3.3% (8% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 7,011 business establishments, including 458 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Forest Lake is $375,900 , 33% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $414,576. Median rent is $1,379/month, with 30.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1989.
Safety & Crime
Forest Lake reports 147 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 61% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,050/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
35.7% of adults in Forest Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(6% above the national average).
93.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 7.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Forest Lake has an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C).
Winters average 14°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 270 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 33.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.
Data Overview
People
Population20,678
Median Age38.8 yrs
Density677/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans4.7%
Economy
A+
Median Income$89,879
Per Capita$45,527
Unemployment3.3%
Poverty4.3%
County GDP$17,078M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,167
Housing
A
Home Value$375,900
Rent$1,379
Ownership71.8%
Zillow$414,576
Housing Units8,445
Rent Burden30.3%
Crime
F
Violent147/100K
Property3,050/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault59/100K
Burglary337/100K
Health
Obesity34.1%
Diabetes9.1%
Smoking13.6%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death4,820/100K
Climate
Avg Temp45°F
Sunny Days270/yr
Rain33.1 in/yr
AQI36 (Good)
Elevation954 ft
Education
B+
Bachelor's+35.7%
High School+93.3%
Graduate+11.7%
School Score7.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 45% / D 54%
Commute25 min
Broadband93.8%
Internet Speed142 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries9
Did You Know?
Forest Lake was founded in 1874.
The median home in Forest Lake was built in 1989.
16.1% work from home.
The nearest airport is New Richmond Regional (22 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.426 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
10.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 142 Mbps.
There are 458 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 8 fatal vehicle crashes.
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