Is Forest Lake or St. Paul Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Forest Lake is safer than St. Paul (Safety Score 53/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 1,596 per 100,000 versus 3,452 for St. Paul — 54% lower. Forest Lake has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Forest Lake has a 100% lower rate.
Note: St. Paul is 14.7x 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
St. Paul — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Forest Lake, MN
St. Paul, MN
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Forest Lake | St. Paul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,595.7 | 3,452.1 | -1,856.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 120.9 | 618.0 | -497.1 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 8.6 | -8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 19.3 | 65.8 | -46.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 4.8 | 119.1 | -114.2 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 96.7 | 424.3 | -327.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,474.9 | 2,834.1 | -1,359.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 468.3 | -313.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,213.7 | 1,883.6 | -669.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 106.4 | 482.2 | -375.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Forest Lake or St. Paul safer?
Forest Lake is safer with a total crime rate of 1,596 per 100K vs 3,452 for St. Paul — a 54% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Forest Lake has a violent crime rate of 120.9 per 100K while St. Paul has 618.0. 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 St. Paul, MN
St. Paul, Minnesota, is the state capital, known for its historic Summit Avenue. This city, one of the "Twin Cities," sits on the Mississippi River, with a diverse population of over 300,000 residents. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 304,051, St. Paul has a total crime rate of 3,452.1 per 100,000 residents.