CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Forest Lake

Minnesota · 18,375 residents · 30.539 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Minneapolis metro area
Compare
The short version

Forest Lake is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $67,293. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 11,577 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $256,400. Poverty is rare here, at 5.8% of residents.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.4
US median: 37.2
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
18,375
+170%since 2000
from 6,798 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
602 / sq mi
+170%since 2000
from 223 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.4
+8%since 2000
from 34.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K9K13K18K22K1990201020202024Forest Lake
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,293
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,419 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,693
+58%since 2000
from $20,058 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
43.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
5.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.379
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade18.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Information10.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services8.6%
US avg: 7%
Public administration6.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$256,400
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $121,700 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$826
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $578 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
62.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 60.2% in 2000
23.6% rent
Vacancy rate
5.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
32.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 40.0% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
3.8
+39%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Forest Lake on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.5%(6,561)
Black0.4%(25)
Hispanic / Latino1%(68)
Asian0.5%(37)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.8%(326)
2010
White, non-Hispanic93.1%(17,114)
Black1.1%(193)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(430)
Asian1.5%(267)
Other2%(374)
Diversity Score16.4%(3,021)
Diversity Score
16
+243%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.8%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
93.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 88.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
9.4%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.7 min
+54%since 2000
from 19.2 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
76.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
15.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
2.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
36.8%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 65.5% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
52.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.7%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Forest Lake

Midway CDP (Santa Rosa County)
Pop 21,317
Bear
Pop 22,370
Maitland
Pop 19,511
Punta Gorda
Pop 20,383
Places similar to Forest Lake
Head to head

Compare Forest Lake to nearby cities

FOREST LAKE VS
Hugo
Income$116,228+73%
Home value$408,900+59%
Population17,167−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST LAKE VS
Wyoming
Income$107,565+60%
Home value$365,700+43%
Population8,121−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST LAKE VS
Lino Lakes
Income$127,181+89%
Home value$407,200+59%
Population23,220+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FOREST LAKE VS
Ham Lake
Income$120,135+79%
Home value$442,500+73%
Population17,104−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Forest Lake, Minnesota?

Forest Lake, Minnesota has about 18,375 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Forest Lake, Minnesota?

The typical household in Forest Lake, Minnesota earns about $67,293 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Forest Lake, Minnesota expensive?

In Forest Lake, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $256,400, and the typical rent is about $826 a month.

How educated are people in Forest Lake, Minnesota?

About 27.8% of adults age 25 and over in Forest Lake, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Forest Lake, Minnesota?

About 5.8% of people in Forest Lake, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Forest Lake, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Forest Lake, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,542 residents, a change of about 215 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Forest Lake with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →