Forest Lake, MN vs Lafayette, 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
Lafayette
62.7
#1832 nationally
Forest Lake leads in cost of living index (114 vs 280). Lafayette leads in median household income ($219,250 vs $91,157). Lafayette leads in crime level (2.2 vs 3.3).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Forest Lake, MN | Lafayette, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.7 (#964) | 62.7 (#1832) |
| Population | 20,685 | 25,048 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,441 | $1,941,109 |
| Median Household Income | $91,157 | $219,250 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 29.7 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 3.3 | 2.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 280 |
| 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-
62.7 Score
Lafayette, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,941,109
Population
25,048
Crime
Low
Walk Score
26
Pacific
View Lafayette, CA →
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