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C

Is Forest Lake, Minnesota Safe?

Population 20,952 · Safer than 36% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 20,952, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Forest Lake earns a C with violent crime close to the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,416 per 100K.

Forest Lake Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricForest LakeMinnesota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate386.2323.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1728.62036.71,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate217.0--268.2
Theft Rate1416.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate164.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

211.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

386/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1729/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Forest Lake

Violent crime in Forest Lake is close to the national average. The rate of 386.2 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1728.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,416 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Forest Lake Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault217
081% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery42
066% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary314
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,416
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft164
052% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Forest Lake Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Forest Lake
386.2
State
323.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Forest Lake
1728.6
State
2036.7
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Lake Safety

Is Forest Lake safe?
Not especially. Forest Lake earns a C with a crime rate of 211.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Forest Lake?
211.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 386.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1728.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Forest Lake safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Forest Lake has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Forest Lake?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Forest Lake generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Forest Lake police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Forest Lake?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Forest Lake's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Forest Lake compare to other cities in Minnesota?
Middle of the pack for Minnesota. Forest Lake isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 43th percentile among Minnesota cities.
How safe is Forest Lake to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Forest Lake?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 36th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Forest Lake?
386.2 per 100,000, which is 6% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (217), robbery (42), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Minnesota city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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