Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Forest Lake, MN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 30.8% of gross income.

Forest Lake rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Minnesota state estimate).

Forest Lake median rent
$1,625/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Minnesota)
$63,222/yr
Rent as % of income
30.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,269, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,581/mo in rent. Forest Lake's median rent of $1,625 exceeds that threshold by $44/mo, putting a licensed practical nurse salary into the rent-burdened range here. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 53.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Minnesota cities have lower median rent than Forest Lake, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Oakdale, MN
$1,624/mo (30.8% of income)
Crystal, MN
$1,624/mo (30.8% of income)
Brooklyn Park, MN
$1,623/mo (30.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Forest Lake

View full rent data for Forest Lake, MN

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Forest Lake, MN?

Median rent in Forest Lake is $1,625 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Minnesota earns about $63,222 a year, which makes that rent 30.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Forest Lake?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Minnesota (~$63,222/yr) supports up to $1,581 a month in rent. Forest Lake's current median rent is $1,625/mo, which is $44/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Forest Lake?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Minnesota works roughly 53.5 hours a month to cover Forest Lake's median rent of $1,625.

Where is rent cheaper than Forest Lake for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Minnesota cities with lower median rent include Oakdale ($1,624/mo), Crystal ($1,624/mo), Brooklyn Park ($1,623/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Minnesota state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Forest Lake, MN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.