Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Forest Lake, MN has a Safety Score of 53/100 — safer than 53% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,595.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,403 of 2,971 US cities and #51 of 90 in Minnesota.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Forest Lake, Minnesota Safe?
Forest Lake, MN, a northern suburb of St. Paul, was once a popular resort town. Situated around the lake of the same name, its population was 20,612 as of 2020.
Forest Lake has a safety score of 53/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,595.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Forest Lake ranks #51 out of 90 cities in Minnesota and #1403 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 53rd percentile for safety — safer than 53% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Forest Lake are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Forest Lake's total crime rate decreased by 13.4%, with violent crime rising 33.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Forest Lake Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 25 | 120.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 4 | 19.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 20 | 96.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 305 | 1,474.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 32 | 154.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 251 | 1,213.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 22 | 106.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Forest Lake vs Minnesota Average
How does Forest Lake's crime rate compare to the Minnesota state average?
| Metric | Forest Lake | Minnesota Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 120.9 | 341.7 | -64.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,474.9 | 2,199.4 | -32.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.5 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,595.7 | 2,541.1 | -37.2% |
Forest Lake Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Forest Lake, Minnesota.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20,680 | 1,595.7 | 120.9 | 1,474.9 |
| 2023 | 20,936 | 1,843.7 | 90.8 | 1,753.0 |
| 2022 | 20,512 | 2,067.1 | 107.3 | 1,959.8 |
| 2021 | 21,592 | 2,658.4 | 125.1 | 2,533.4 |
| 2020 | 21,230 | 3,042.9 | 179.0 | 2,863.9 |
| 2019 | 20,457 | 3,197.0 | 146.7 | 3,050.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Lake, Minnesota safe?
Forest Lake has a safety score of 53/100, meaning it has less crime than about 53% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,595.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Forest Lake is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Forest Lake, Minnesota?
According to FBI data for 2024, Forest Lake has a violent crime rate of 120.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,474.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Forest Lake compare to the national average?
Forest Lake's total crime rate of 1,595.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 20,680 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Forest Lake?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Forest Lake include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Forest Lake safe to visit?
Like any city, Forest Lake has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 53/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.