Forest Lake, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Washington County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
20,678 Population 677/sq mi density
$89,879 Median Income $45,527 per capita
$375,900 Home Value $429,007 Zillow
$1,379 Median Rent 30.3% income on rent
45°F Avg Temperature
121 Violent Crime/100K 1,480 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$89,879 median income, 4.6% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$375,900 home value, $1,379/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
121 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.9 / 5.0
35.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Forest Lake, MN

At a Glance

Median Income
$89,879
20% above
$45,527 per capita
Home Value
$375,900
33% above
Zillow: $429,007
Median Rent
$1,379/mo
19% above
30.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
121/100K
68% below
1,480/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
35.7%
6% above
93.3% high school+
Unemployment
4.6%
28% above
4.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.1%
6% above
13.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
45°F

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)

Income
120%
Home Value
133%
Rent
119%
Poverty
35%
Bachelor's
106%
Unemployment
128%
Crime
32%
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 4.6% (28% above 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 $429,007. 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 121 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 68% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,480/100K.

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. Annual precipitation totals 33.1 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 35.

Data Overview

People

Population20,678
Median Age38.8 yrs
Density677/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born6.1%
Veterans4.7%

Economy

A
Median Income$89,879
Per Capita$45,527
Unemployment4.6%
Poverty4.3%
County GDP$17,078M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,167

Housing

A
Home Value$375,900
Rent$1,379
Ownership71.8%
Zillow$429,007
Housing Units8,445
Rent Burden30.3%

Crime

F
Violent121/100K
Property1,480/100K

Health

Obesity34.1%
Diabetes9.1%
Smoking13.6%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death4,820/100K

Climate

Avg Temp45°F
Rain33.1 in/yr
AQI35 (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.
11.2% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 142 Mbps.
There are 458 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 8 fatal vehicle crashes.