The Town FilesForest Lake, Minnesota
City in Washington County · population 20,611 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $393,500
- Household income
- $92,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.6
Forest Lake is a city of 20,611 people in Washington County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $393,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 91% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 84% of Minnesota towns.
How Forest Lake ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Forest Lake is worth $393,500, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $92,944, which is more affordable than 18% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,421 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forest Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $393,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,421 | $991 |
| Median household income | $92,944 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Forest Lake
| People | Forest Lake | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Forest Lake
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.6 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Lake since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 6, 1965 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1982: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 95,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,700 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Forest Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.3%.
Public schools in Forest Lake
17 public schools with 5,966 students, about 19.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Lake Area High School | 9-12 | 1,823 | 28.5 |
| Forest Lake Area Middle School | 7-8 | 844 | 19.6 |
| LILA Lower School (charter) | 1-5 | 597 | 16.1 |
| LILA Upper School (charter) | 6-12 | 572 | 12.4 |
| COLUMBUS ELEMENTARY | PK-6 | 426 | 19.4 |
| Forest View Elementary | PK-3 | 333 | 17.5 |
| FOREST LAKE ELEMENTARY | 4-6 | 315 | 24.2 |
| North Lakes Academy Elementary (charter) | K-5 | 266 | 14.8 |
| Forest Lake Area Community School | 6-12 | 198 | 19.8 |
| North Lakes Academy Middle School (charter) | 6-8 | 148 | 16.4 |
| North Lakes Academy Upper School (charter) | 9-12 | 141 | 12.8 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION | PK-PK | 124 | — |
Towns near Forest Lake
- Hugo, MN6.0 mi · 15,766 people · home $408,900
- Wyoming, MN6.2 mi · 8,032 people · home $365,700
- Scandia, MN6.5 mi · 3,984 people · home $475,800
- Columbus, MN6.9 mi · 4,159 people · home $460,200
- Centerville, MN7.2 mi · 3,896 people · home $376,900
- Chisago City, MN8.7 mi · 5,558 people · home $413,000
- May, MN8.8 mi · 2,670 people · home $685,700
- Lino Lakes, MN9.5 mi · 21,399 people · home $407,200
Forest Lake questions
Is Forest Lake, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forest Lake scores better for retirees than 17% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 10%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Forest Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Forest Lake is valued at $393,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,944, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,421 a month.
What is the weather like in Forest Lake?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 3.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 51.6 inches of snow.
Does Forest Lake get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forest Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 6, 1965. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)