Median Age
40 Years
Largest Age Group
35-44 Years
Approximately 14% of Residents
Under 20
25%
Over 65
18%
Forest Lake
Forest Lake, MN Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,320
Population
21,725
Renter Mix
29% Rent
Relish the benefits of small-town living near the Twin Cities
Suburban
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Rural
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Growing
•
Welcoming
•
Close-Knit
•
Peaceful
•
Scenic
•
Active
•
Convenient
•
Commuter
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Situated about 30 miles northeast of the Twin Cities, Forest Lake is a peaceful suburb with a small-town feel. Forest Lake residents enjoy access to several beautiful lakes, agricultural pursuits, and family-friendly amenities.
Forest Lake’s close-knit community comes together for a wide variety of special events, including Lake Fest, Arts in the Park, and the Northern Lights Paddle, Yoga, and Music Fest in addition to one of the state’s oldest and largest Fourth of July celebrations.
Located just off of Highways 35E and 35W, Forest Lake sits in an ideal position for exploring the northern Twin Cities region, the scenic Saint Croix Valley, and Minnesota’s Lakes Region.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$93,349
Average: $114,360
Education
6,045
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,550
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Forest Lake has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
29%
Non-Renters
71%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
25%
Other Education
75%
Rent Trends
As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Forest Lake, MN is $1,140 for a studio, $1,319 for one bedroom, $1,625 for two bedrooms, and $1,846 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Forest Lake has increased by 3.3% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,319/month
676 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Forest Lake, MN is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades PK-5
432 Students
Public
Grades K-5
581 Students
Public
Grades K-5
333 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
360 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
127 Students
Public
Grades 6-12
593 Students
Forest Lake Area Middle School
Public
Grades 6-8
853 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
157 Students
Public
Grades 7-9
640 Students
Forest Lake Extended School Year
Public
Grades K-12
Public
Grades 6-12
593 Students
Forest Lake Senior High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,876 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
159 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
45 Students
Forest Lake Extended School Year
Public
Grades K-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum
- Wildlife Science Center
- Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve
- Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center
- Wargo Nature Center
Military Bases
Airports
- Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain
Top Apartments in Forest Lake
Houses for Rent in Forest Lake
Search Nearby Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.