City profile
Forest Lake, MN
Anoka County · Population 20,729
Forest Lake is a town in Anoka County, MN with about 20,729 residents and a typical home value near $394,000. It is 22 miles from St. Paul, MN, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
16°F
Summer avg
73°F
Sunny days / yr
195
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$393,500
Typical monthly housing
$2,482
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
118
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.05%
- State income tax (top)
- 9.85%
- Social Security
- Taxed (with exemptions)
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.04%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate · county score 84/100
Top hazards: Strong wind, Hail, Tornado
Nearest major airport
28 mi to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 47% Democratic / 51% Republican
Community
Population
20,729
Black population
3.0%
County
Anoka County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸Home insurance premiums are rising quickly here
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: hail, extreme cold
Highlights
- About 20,729 residents
- Typical home value about $394,000
- 22 miles from St. Paul, MN
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.