Forest Lake, MN vs Marion, IA
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
Marion
80.8
#63 nationally
Marion leads in walk score (32 vs 18). Marion leads in average commute (19.2 min vs 26.9 min). Marion leads in cost of living index (94 vs 114).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Forest Lake, MN | Marion, IA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.7 (#964) | 80.8 (#63) |
| Population | 20,685 | 42,213 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $432,441 | $281,229 |
| Median Household Income | $91,157 | $81,519 |
| Average Commute | 26.9 min | 19.2 min |
| Walk Score | 18 | 32 |
| Crime Level | 3.3 | 3.4 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 94 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+8.9 | D+9.9 |
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 →
B-
80.8 Score
Marion, IA
Small Iowa city with local appeal
Median Home
$281,229
Population
42,213
Crime
Low
Walk Score
32
Midwest
View Marion, IA →
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