What it's like to live in Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park is a small city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Lake Forest Park deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a population that has been shrinking.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Shrinking population
How Lake Forest Park compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Lake Forest Park
Based on Lake Forest Park's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,666
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $93,320 a year
- 43% of Lake Forest Park renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$190,640
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $95,320
- Homes cost 6.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 65% above US
$2,333/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,333 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $953,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $953,200 · 43% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in King County is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
King County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 88% below US
38 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1478/100k · Lake Forest Park Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.2 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 32% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 75°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 83% above US
66% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
2 public schools inside the boundary
There are 2 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (11 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Lake Forest Park's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,333/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (32% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
See all the data for Lake Forest Park →·All Washington cities →
Other places near Lake Forest Park
All Washington guides →Moving to Kenmore →
2 mi away · pop. 23,741
Rent $1,949/mo · Income $139,764
Compare with Lake Forest Park →Moving to Mountlake Terrace →
3 mi away · pop. 23,104
Rent $2,004/mo · Income $107,687
Compare with Lake Forest Park →Moving to Shoreline →
3 mi away · pop. 61,431
Rent $1,985/mo · Income $112,751
Compare with Lake Forest Park →Moving to Alderwood Manor →
3 mi away · pop. 10,266
Rent $1,919/mo · Income $105,181
Compare with Lake Forest Park →Not sure Lake Forest Park is the one?
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