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Living in
Lake Forest Park.
About
Life in Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park is a community of 13,356 people in Washington. The median household income is $158,868, median rent runs about $2,333 per month, and median home values are around $953,200. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
Lake Forest Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.0%
Foreign-Born
12.5%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
-3.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.5% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Lake Forest Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Forest Park, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (25.3%), and 4.3% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
19.7%
of residents
65 and Older
18.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.0%
of households
Married Couples
58.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.53
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 33% above WA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Forest Park
In Lake Forest Park, rent runs 33% above the WA average, and home values are 69% above the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
14.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,290
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1968
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $981,105 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Lake Forest Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in King County, which includes Lake Forest Park, is close to the WA average.
Unemployment rate
Lake Forest Park: King County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
King County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Lake Forest Park is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Lake Forest Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute28.2 min avg
How Lake Forest Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Forest Park, most residents drive alone to work (52%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE)
Regional airport · few flights306k passengers boarded in 2025
- 21 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 88% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Forest Park runs 88% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
37.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,477.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Forest Park Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Lake Forest Park, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
28 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Lake Forest Park is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Lake Forest Park, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Lake Forest Park is less than 1% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate75°F summers, 37°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Forest Park has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 37°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/37°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.8"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
25
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
163
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 37°F | 5.14" |
| Feb | 50°F | 37°F | 3.54" |
| Mar | 54°F | 39°F | 3.86" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 2.98" |
| May | 65°F | 48°F | 2.16" |
| Jun | 70°F | 53°F | 1.57" |
| Jul | 77°F | 57°F | 0.78" |
| Aug | 77°F | 57°F | 1.00" |
| Sep | 71°F | 53°F | 1.74" |
| Oct | 61°F | 47°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 52°F | 41°F | 5.85" |
| Dec | 47°F | 37°F | 5.55" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Forest Park
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Forest Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Swedish Edmonds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Edmonds
Bhc Fairfax Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.6 mi away · Kirkland
Evergreenhealth Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Kirkland
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 66.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
66.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lake Forest Park (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
7.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,942 students · in-state tuition $13,406 · 85% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,364 students · in-state tuition $4,580 · 48% graduate · median earnings $63,508 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
4.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,457 students · in-state tuition $13,472 · 80% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,062 students · in-state tuition $58,965 · 74% graduate · median earnings $84,728 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,953 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 42% graduate · median earnings $48,906 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,656 students · in-state tuition $4,953 · 42% graduate · median earnings $54,434 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
11 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
11 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
37 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
63 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
64 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
68 mi awayNorth Cascades National Park
National Park
83 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Forest Park
Lake Forest Park Library
17171 Bothell Way Ne, Lake Forest Park
Cities Near Lake Forest Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Forest Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Forest Park FAQ
Is Lake Forest Park, Washington affordable?⌄
Lake Forest Park's median rent is $2,333/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $159,904/year. Median home value is $953,200.
Is Lake Forest Park, Washington safe?⌄
Lake Forest Park's violent crime rate was 38 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1478 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Forest Park, Washington?⌄
King County, which includes Lake Forest Park, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Forest Park, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Forest Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,333/month and median household income is $159,904/year. The median home value is $953,200. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Forest Park, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Lake Forest Park is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from