Tucked along the shores of Lake Washington between Seattle and Kenmore, Lake Forest Park is a small, deliberately residential city that feels like a wooded retreat. Founded in 1912 by Ole Hanson as one of the Seattle area's first planned communities, its founding vision — preserving trees, streams, wildflowers, and lakefront — still shapes local life today.
Streets wind through dense evergreens past mid-century modern ramblers and signature Northwest Contemporary post-and-beam homes with deep roof overhangs and walls of glass that open to the forest. With less than four percent of its land zoned commercial, Lake Forest Park is overwhelmingly a place people come home to.
Life in Lake Forest Park moves at a gentler pace. Residents prize privacy, nature, and community connection — Sunday mornings at the farmers market, summer concerts at Third Place Commons, and evening walks under towering firs.
It's a true bedroom community: quiet by design, with essentially no nightlife inside city limits, yet only about 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Families are drawn by the safety, the schools, and the feeling of living somewhere set apart.
The Lake Forest Park Town Center is the community's gathering place, anchored by Third Place Books — a beloved independent bookstore — and its adjoining Commons, where a food court and frequent live music make it far more than a shopping stop. Honey Bear Bakery draws breakfast crowds, while The Local 104 serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizza alongside dozens of local craft beers.
Lake Forest Bar & Grill, Brileys BBQ and Grill with its lake views, Vulpine Taproom, and the fine-dining Copperleaf Restaurant offer something for every occasion. The seasonal Sunday Farmers Market (May through October) is a cherished local tradition.
The 26-mile Burke-Gilman Trail passes right by the Town Center, connecting cyclists and walkers to the University District, Seattle, and Woodinville. Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve offers a quiet lakefront escape, while Blue Heron Park, Whispering Willow Park, Pfingst Animal Acres Park, and Five Acre Woods provide gardens, picnic grounds, and wooded trails.
Horizon View Park adds athletic fields, pickleball courts, and play areas, and nearby Log Boom Park in Kenmore brings a sandy Lake Washington beach with seaplane watching and a fishing pier.
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of . All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by the broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
13,356 people live in Lake Forest Park, where the median age is 42.8 and the average individual income is $76,213. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Lake Forest Park, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Safeway, Lake Forest Park Farmers Market, and The Avid Angler.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | 0.38 miles | 3 reviews | 3/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.39 miles | 29 reviews | 3.9/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.38 miles | 41 reviews | 4.8/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.42 miles | 24 reviews | 4.1/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.22 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.37 miles | 1 review | 4/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.65 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.73 miles | 6 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.25 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
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Lake Forest Park has 5,290 households, with an average household size of 2.52. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Lake Forest Park do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 13,356 people call Lake Forest Park home. The population density is 3,798 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
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10-17 Years
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Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
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