Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Forest Lake, MN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

CSAMinneapolis-St. Paul MSAMinneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington#48/210 Population

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

20,729

Median Agei

39.6

Race & Ethnicityi

White

86%17,820

Hispanic/Latino

3.8%785

Asian

3.6%741

Black

3%615

Two or More

2.7%559

Other

0.8%172

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%28

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%9

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.6%501

High School Diploma

22.1%3,112

Some College (<1 yr)

7.3%1,025

Some College (1+ yr)

14.2%1,995

Associate's Degree

12.1%1,705

Bachelor's Degree

23.7%3,338

Master's Degree

8.8%1,244

Professional Degree

1.8%253

Doctorate

1.1%150

HS or Higher

94.6%

BA or Higher

35.4%

Graduate+

11.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$393,500

Median Renti

$1,421

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

72.9%6,042

Renter-Occupied

27.1%2,244

Total Units

8,723

Homeownership

72.9%

Vacancy Rate

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$92,944

Mean Household Incomei

$115,588

Per Capita Incomei

$46,249

Poverty Ratei

Unemploymenti

4.3%

Labor Forcei

11,831

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

221

Residentsi

388

Avg. Tenant Renti

$438/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

31 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing40 homes80% occupied$345/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers16 homes67% occupied$624/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8165 homes92% occupied$442/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $92,944/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $28K/yr

87.1%

Very low income$28K–$46K/yr

11.6%

Low income$46K–$74K/yr

1.3%

Who Receives This Housing

71.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

13.9% of subsidized households are minority

30% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

48.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Social Characteristicsi

Veteransi

742(4.7% of civilian adults)