1st Advantage MortgageIn Ramsey County, Minnesota, the typical household earns $81,568 a year and the typical rent is $1,329. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Minnesota before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Ramsey County
- Work, industries and travel time in Ramsey County
- What stands out in Ramsey County
- What it costs to live in Ramsey County
- Paychecks and income spread in Ramsey County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Ramsey County communities by population
- Local borrowing considerations for Ramsey County
- Budget math at the Ramsey County median
- Ramsey County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Ramsey County applicants
- Minnesota lender licensing
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Ramsey County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ramsey County's population at 542,945; only 1 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. Density: about 3,566.0 residents per square mile across 152 square miles of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 17 places in the county (17 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is St. Paul, with about 307,284 residents, or 57% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Ramsey County
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Ramsey County residents work in education and health care and 13% in manufacturing. Ramsey County over-indexes on education and health care: 28% versus 26% in Minnesota. 4.9% of Ramsey County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. Long commutes are the exception here: 6% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Ramsey County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.3% | +2.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.0% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.5% | -1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | +0.7 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.1% | 0.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Ramsey County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What stands out in Ramsey County
- On households without a vehicle, Ramsey County sits near the top of Minnesota at 10.2%, the highest of 87. Without a car, transit and ride costs belong in the budget before any payment.
- On population, Ramsey County sits near the top of Minnesota at 542,945, 2nd highest of 87. A big county has more local lenders, so shopping around is easier.
- On homeownership, Ramsey County sits near the bottom of Minnesota at 61%, the lowest of 87. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
What it costs to live in Ramsey County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,329 in Ramsey County versus $1,280 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 51% in Ramsey County, 48% statewide. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $326,600, about 4.0 times the median household income. In Ramsey County, 61% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1965. Nationally, Ramsey County's $1,329 rent is 52% above the middle county.
| Measure | Ramsey County | Minnesota | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 61% | 72% | -11.6 pts |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | -4.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 48% | +2.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | +2.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,329/mo | $1,280/mo | 4% higher |
| Median home value | $326,600 | $329,300 | level |
With rent burdens at 51%, keep any Ramsey County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Paychecks and income spread in Ramsey County
Median household income in Ramsey County: $81,568 (8% below Minnesota, $89,062). That places it 18th among Minnesota's 87 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Ramsey County | Gap to Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.1% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.3% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.8% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 41% of Ramsey County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. 12.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.465 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Ramsey County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Ramsey County's, from 10 to 33 miles away. Scott County leads the group on income ($119,314), Hennepin County trails ($97,653), and Ramsey County out-earns 0 of the six. The list crosses into Wisconsin, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramsey County | - | $81,568 | $1,329/mo | 61% |
| Washington County, MN | 10 mi | $115,345 | $1,710/mo | 81% |
| Hennepin County, MN | 18 mi | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
| Anoka County, MN | 19 mi | $101,869 | $1,464/mo | 80% |
| Dakota County, MN | 24 mi | $106,318 | $1,548/mo | 75% |
| St. Croix County, WI | 32 mi | $103,046 | $1,271/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, MN | 33 mi | $119,314 | $1,568/mo | 84% |
Ramsey County communities by population
The table lists the 14 largest of 17 Census places in Ramsey County, by population. Together all 17 hold about 545,457 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $231,742 at the median in North Oaks, $73,394 in St. Paul. Rent is cheapest in Falcon Heights ($1,202) and steepest in North Oaks ($3,501). One of them, St. Paul, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | city | 307,284 | $73,394 | $1,281 | 5 mi |
| Maplewood | city | 40,695 | $91,394 | $1,406 | 3 mi |
| Roseville | city | 35,802 | $86,930 | $1,374 | 3 mi |
| Shoreview | city | 26,714 | $108,370 | $1,661 | 5 mi |
| White Bear Lake | city | 23,908 | $83,554 | $1,601 | 5 mi |
| New Brighton | city | 22,710 | $88,521 | $1,397 | 6 mi |
| Mounds View | city | 12,926 | $90,009 | $1,245 | 8 mi |
| Vadnais Heights | city | 12,838 | $98,685 | $1,455 | 3 mi |
| North St. Paul | city | 12,570 | $84,797 | $1,352 | 5 mi |
| Little Canada | city | 10,514 | $77,957 | $1,417 | 1 mi |
| St. Anthony | city | 9,671 | $97,363 | $1,397 | 6 mi |
| Arden Hills | city | 9,658 | $134,118 | $1,710 | 5 mi |
| Spring Lake Park | city | 7,032 | $90,753 | $1,413 | 10 mi |
| North Oaks | city | 5,179 | $231,742 | $3,501 | 6 mi |
Local borrowing considerations for Ramsey County
A few patterns in the Ramsey County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Strong incomes, long terms. 41% of Ramsey County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Ramsey County rent burden. 51% of renters are cost-burdened; ask your landlord about a payment plan before borrowing for rent.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Budget math at the Ramsey County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Ramsey County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,797 before taxes
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,329)
- Under a 35% cap, $2,379 total minus rent leaves $1,050
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,730 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $1,329, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Ramsey County residents: age, schooling, coverage
In Ramsey County, 46% of adults have at least a four-year degree (39% in Minnesota). The uninsured rate is 5.5%, against 4.7% for Minnesota.
| Ramsey County | vs Minnesota | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.6% | +6.2 pts | +23.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | +3.6 pts | +4.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | +3.0 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Work from home | 20.5% | +2.8 pts | +11.8 pts |
| Median age | 36.1 | -2.7 yrs | -5.4 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | +2.2 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | +0.9 pts | -2.3 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | +0.8 pts | +0.5 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Ramsey County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 48.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 2.8% |
Checklist for Ramsey County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Minnesota.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Minnesota lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Ramsey County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Minnesota guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is $81,568 a good income in Ramsey County?
It is the county median, so half of Ramsey County households earn more and half less; 41% earn $100,000 or more.
How does Ramsey County rent compare with Minnesota?
$1,329 locally versus $1,280 for the state, 4% above.
What are the biggest places in Ramsey County?
By population: St. Paul, Maplewood, Roseville, Shoreview, White Bear Lake. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Does living in Ramsey County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Ramsey County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Where can someone in Ramsey County check a lender's license?
With the Minnesota Department of Commerce. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.