Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Forest Lake, Minnesota
A $376,000 home here costs
$3,035per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $130,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,066. The real number is $969 higher every month, 47% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Washington County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Forest Lake against Washington County and Minnesota
| Measure | Forest Lake | Washington County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,900 | $400,900 |
| Median property tax | $3,625 | $4,012 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.964% | 1.001% |
| Median gross rent | $1,379 | $1,637 |
| Population | 20,678 | 272,298 |
The weather behind that power bill
Forest Lake sits in Washington County, which averages a high of 79.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 5.0°F in its coldest, with 33.2" of precipitation a year and 41% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 511 cooling and 8,007 heating degree days, which is what sets the $122 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Washington County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Washington County
Full Washington County cost breakdown · Every county in Minnesota
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Forest Lake averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Forest Lake every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Forest Lake I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Forest Lake?
A $376,000 home in Forest Lake, Minnesota costs approximately $3,035 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $2,066 principal and interest, $302 property tax, $163 homeowners insurance, $190 utilities and $313 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Forest Lake?
Forest Lake has an effective property tax rate of 0.964%, based on a median home value of $375,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,625. That is lower than the Washington County average of 1.001%.
What is the average home price in Forest Lake?
The median owner-occupied home value in Forest Lake, Minnesota is $375,900, against $400,900 across Washington County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Forest Lake?
Median gross rent in Forest Lake is $1,379 a month, against $3,035 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Forest Lake?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Forest Lake, Minnesota at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $130,000 a year. That covers the full $3,035 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Forest Lake, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Minnesota.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.