Forest Lake, MN Demographics
A map of Forest Lake's Population by Race
Forest Lake, Minnesota has an estimated population of 20,729, a less than 1% change from the 20,611 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.0% White, 3.8% Hispanic, 3.6% Asian, 3.0% Black, 2.7% Multiracial, and 1.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Forest Lake, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.
Forest Lake has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Minnesota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Forest Lake, that probability was 24.0% in 2020 and 25.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.
Forest Lake is ranked the 59th most populous place in Minnesota, out of 915 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Forest Lake was ranked the 59th most populous place in the 2020 Census.
Forest Lake's White Population
17,820 residents of Forest Lake, or 86.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Forest Lake is considerably higher than in Minnesota overall, where 75.9% of the population is White. Forest Lake ranks 616th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Forest Lake's population has decreased from 86.9% to 86.0%.
Forest Lake is more White than neighboring Chisago City (85.8% White). Forest Lake is less White than neighboring Wyoming (91.4% White), Columbus (91.8% White), and Scandia (93.7% White).
Forest Lake's Black Population
615 residents of Forest Lake, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Forest Lake is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.9% of the population is Black. Forest Lake ranks 161st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's Black population has grown by an estimated 79.8%. Black residents' share of Forest Lake's population has increased from 1.7% to 3.0%.
Forest Lake is more Black than neighboring Wyoming (1.1% Black), Chisago City (0.5% Black), Columbus (0% Black), and Scandia (0% Black). Forest Lake is less Black than neighboring Hugo (4.1% Black).
Forest Lake's Asian Population
741 residents of Forest Lake, or 3.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Forest Lake is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 5.1% of the population is Asian. Forest Lake ranks 114th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's Asian population has grown by an estimated 37.0%. Asian residents' share of Forest Lake's population has increased from 2.6% to 3.6%.
Forest Lake is more Asian than neighboring Wyoming (3.5% Asian), Chisago City (2.8% Asian), Columbus (2.7% Asian), and Scandia (0% Asian). Forest Lake is less Asian than neighboring Hugo (4.5% Asian).
Forest Lake's Hispanic Population
785 residents of Forest Lake, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Forest Lake is slightly lower than in Minnesota overall, where 6.4% of the population is Hispanic. Forest Lake ranks 332nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's Hispanic population has remained roughly the same. Hispanic residents' share of Forest Lake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.8%.
Forest Lake is more Hispanic than neighboring Wyoming (2.7% Hispanic), Hugo (2.5% Hispanic), Columbus (2% Hispanic), and Scandia (2.6% Hispanic). Forest Lake is less Hispanic than neighboring Chisago City (3.9% Hispanic).
Forest Lake's Native American/Other Population
209 residents of Forest Lake, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Forest Lake is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Forest Lake ranks 420th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 43.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Forest Lake's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.
Forest Lake is more Native American/Other than neighboring Wyoming (0.1% Native American/Other), Hugo (0% Native American/Other), Chisago City (0.8% Native American/Other), and Scandia (0.8% Native American/Other). Forest Lake is less Native American/Other than neighboring Columbus (2.1% Native American/Other).
Forest Lake's Multiracial Population
559 residents of Forest Lake, or 2.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Forest Lake is comparable to the share in Minnesota overall, where 4.5% of the population is Multiracial. Forest Lake ranks 288th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 915 places.
Since the 2020 Census, Forest Lake's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 36.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Forest Lake's population has decreased from 4.3% to 2.7%.
Forest Lake is more Multiracial than neighboring Wyoming (1.2% Multiracial), and Columbus (1.4% Multiracial). Forest Lake is less Multiracial than neighboring Hugo (2.9% Multiracial), Chisago City (6.1% Multiracial), and Scandia (2.9% Multiracial).
Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.