Forest Lake, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Forest Lake, Minnesota had a total population of 20,729, the 59th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $92,944, which is 4% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Forest Lake Quick Facts
How Forest Lake Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,678 | 20,729 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $89,879 | $92,944 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $375,900 | $393,500 | +4.7% |
How Forest Lake Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Forest Lake Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Washington County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodbury | 78,305 | $125,310 | 5.3% | $450,200 |
| Cottage Grove | 40,992 | $120,791 | 4.2% | $378,800 |
| Oakdale | 28,585 | $93,772 | 5.7% | $318,100 |
| Stillwater | 19,355 | $105,853 | 7.3% | $414,200 |
| Hugo | 16,340 | $116,228 | 2.8% | $408,900 |
| Lake Elmo | 13,140 | $153,669 | 4.8% | $597,000 |
| Mahtomedi | 8,133 | $123,319 | 3.8% | $476,000 |
| St. Paul Park | 5,457 | $100,642 | 5.0% | $263,500 |
| Oak Park Heights | 4,756 | $82,476 | 7.1% | $354,800 |
| Newport | 4,754 | $71,979 | 9.4% | $378,100 |
Cities Similar to Forest Lake
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South St. Paul | 20,611 | $87,994 | $281,600 | 32.5% | 8.3% |
| Northfield | 20,742 | $84,895 | $329,400 | 53.3% | 8.8% |
| Hastings | 22,117 | $93,998 | $322,400 | 30.9% | 5.4% |
| Crystal | 22,476 | $92,513 | $296,100 | 37.1% | 8.2% |
| Sartell | 19,758 | $84,131 | $297,300 | 40.9% | 7.4% |
Population Overview
Forest Lake is a small city located in Minnesota, within Washington County. The total population is 20,729. It ranks as the 59th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Forest Lake is 39.6 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.8 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Forest Lake is $92,944. This is 4% higher than the state median of $89,062. It is also 15% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.0%. This is 25% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $393,500. Housing costs are 19% higher than the state median of $329,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 72.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Forest Lake has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.8%. The Black or African American population (3.0%) is well below the state average of 7.0%.
Education
35.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Forest Lake, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Minnesota city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Forest Lake, Minnesota?
Forest Lake, Minnesota has a population of 20,729 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Forest Lake, MN?
The median household income in Forest Lake is $92,944, which is 15% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Forest Lake, MN?
The poverty rate in Forest Lake is 7.0%. This means approximately 1,446 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Forest Lake, Minnesota?
Forest Lake's population is 86.0% White, 3.0% Black, 3.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 3.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Forest Lake, MN?
The median home value in Forest Lake is $393,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.
How educated is Forest Lake, Minnesota?
35.4% of adults (25+) in Forest Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.