Forest Lake, MN vs Maplewood, MN

Maplewood is moderately more affordable than Forest Lake, with a 8.8% lower cost of living index. Forest Lake scores 109 compared to 100 for Maplewood, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Forest Lake can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Forest Lake is $1,379/month compared to $1,316/month in Maplewood — a 5% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Maplewood is more affordable at $291,300 median vs $375,900.

Median household income in Forest Lake is $89,879 compared to $88,534 in Maplewood (+1.5%). Forest Lake does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Forest Lake spend roughly 18.4% of their income on rent, more than the 17.8% in Maplewood.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (46.5°F vs 46.5°F). Maplewood receives more rainfall at 29.2" per year compared to 29.2" in Forest Lake.