Forest Lake, MN vs Hercules, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Forest Lake
71.7
#964 nationally
Hercules
63.3
#1776 nationally
Hercules leads in walk score (29 vs 18). Forest Lake leads in average commute (26.9 min vs 40.4 min). Forest Lake leads in cost of living index (114 vs 171).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Forest Lake, MN | Hercules, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.7 (#964) | 63.3 (#1776) |
| Population | 20,685 | 26,582 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,441 | $743,984 |
| Median Household Income | $91,157 | $125,880 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 40.4 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 29 |
| Crime Level | 3.3 | 4.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 171 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+8.9 | D+38.0 |
C-
71.7 Score
Forest Lake, MN
Small Minnesota city with local appeal
Median Home
$432,441
Population
20,685
Crime
Low
Walk Score
18
Midwest
View Forest Lake, MN →
D
63.3 Score
Hercules, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$743,984
Population
26,582
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Hercules, CA →
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