Is Forest Lake or Rochester Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Rochester is safer than Forest Lake (Safety Score 55/100 vs 53/100), with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100,000 versus 1,596 for Forest Lake — 5% lower. Forest Lake has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Forest Lake has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Rochester is 5.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Forest Lake — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Rochester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Forest Lake, MN
Rochester, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Forest Lake | Rochester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,595.7 | 1,522.5 | +73.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 120.9 | 154.0 | -33.2 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 4.1 | -4.1 |
| Rape Rate | 19.3 | 26.1 | -6.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 4.8 | 26.1 | -21.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 96.7 | 97.8 | -1.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,474.9 | 1,368.5 | +106.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 173.6 | -18.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,213.7 | 1,103.6 | +110.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 106.4 | 91.3 | +15.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Lake or Rochester safer?
Rochester is safer with a total crime rate of 1,522 per 100K vs 1,596 for Forest Lake — a 5% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Forest Lake has a violent crime rate of 120.9 per 100K while Rochester has 154.0. Forest Lake has lower violent crime.
About Forest Lake, MN
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. With a safety score of 53/100 and a population coverage of 20,680, Forest Lake has a total crime rate of 1,595.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Rochester, MN
Rochester, Minnesota, home to the Mayo Clinic, is a city in southeastern Minnesota. Its population of over 120,000 makes it the state's third-largest city. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 122,694, Rochester has a total crime rate of 1,522.5 per 100,000 residents.