1st Advantage MortgageStearns County households have a median income of $77,066 and median rent of $1,068 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Stearns County by the numbers
- How much Stearns County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Stearns County
- The Stearns County job picture
- Counties near Stearns County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Stearns County
- Room for a loan payment in Stearns County
- Stearns County households compared
- What the numbers mean for Stearns County borrowers
- A Stearns County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Stearns County
- More guides for Stearns County
- Frequently asked questions
Stearns County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Stearns County's population at 160,865; only 7 of Minnesota's 87 county-level areas are larger. It covers 1,343 square miles of land, or about 120 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the St. Cloud, MN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Waite Park is the biggest of its 28 Census places, at roughly 8,399 people (5% of the county total).
How much Stearns County households make
Half of Stearns County households take in less than $77,066 a year and half take in more, 13% below the Minnesota median of $89,062. Only 29 Minnesota counties post a higher median.
| Band | Stearns County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.7% | +4.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.9% | -5.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Stearns County households make $100,000 or more, and 21% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 12.9%, 4 points higher than the state's 9.3%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Stearns County
Renters in Stearns County pay a median of $1,068 a month, 17% below the Minnesota figure of $1,280. By the Census definition, 50% of Stearns County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $273,400, or 3.5 years of median income. The ownership rate is 68%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Measure | Stearns County | Minnesota | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,068/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $273,400 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.1% | 2.9% | n/a |
The Stearns County job picture
The biggest employer of Stearns County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 29% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 29% locally and 26% for Minnesota. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Stearns County workers | vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.8% | +3.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.6% | +0.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.1% | +2.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Stearns County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Stearns County's, from 30 to 41 miles away. Kandiyohi County leads the group on income ($76,592), Todd County trails ($67,662), and Stearns County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns County | - | $77,066 | $1,068/mo | 68% |
| Meeker County, MN | 30 mi | $75,446 | $904/mo | 79% |
| Benton County, MN | 31 mi | $74,410 | $982/mo | 67% |
| Kandiyohi County, MN | 34 mi | $76,592 | $909/mo | 73% |
| Morrison County, MN | 36 mi | $69,446 | $788/mo | 81% |
| Todd County, MN | 38 mi | $67,662 | $908/mo | 83% |
| Pope County, MN | 41 mi | $76,220 | $902/mo | 84% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Stearns County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 28 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 31% of Stearns County residents live in one of the 28. Incomes vary by place: $140,227 at the median in St. Augusta, $51,103 in Belgrade. Rent is cheapest in Holdingford ($582) and steepest in Cold Spring ($1,424). This guide covers each of the 28 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waite Park | city | 8,399 | $59,285 | $1,117 | 18 mi |
| St. Joseph | city | 7,021 | $74,946 | $1,136 | 15 mi |
| Sauk Centre | city | 4,621 | $62,628 | $843 | 21 mi |
| Cold Spring | city | 4,249 | $72,228 | $1,424 | 11 mi |
| Melrose | city | 3,671 | $59,677 | $1,103 | 13 mi |
| St. Augusta | city | 3,625 | $140,227 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Albany | city | 2,821 | $69,167 | $642 | 5 mi |
| Paynesville | city | 2,519 | $75,250 | $815 | 13 mi |
| Rockville | city | 2,452 | $105,329 | $815 | 15 mi |
| St. John's University | CDP | 1,580 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Avon | city | 1,552 | $91,563 | $1,039 | 9 mi |
| Richmond | city | 1,431 | $71,438 | $648 | 8 mi |
| Freeport | city | 787 | $89,808 | $906 | 8 mi |
| Belgrade | city | 758 | $51,103 | $756 | 20 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Stearns County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Stearns County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Monthly gross at the median, Stearns County: $6,422
- Housing at the median rent of $1,068 uses 17%
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,501 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Stearns County households compared
Degree holders: 29% of adults over 25. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Stearns County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.8% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.9% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.0% |
What the numbers mean for Stearns County borrowers
A few patterns in the Stearns County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Stearns County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
A Stearns County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Stearns County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Stearns County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Stearns County borrowers answers to the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Minnesota state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Stearns County
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Stearns County household make?
About $77,066 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Minnesota median.
What do renters pay in Stearns County?
$1,068 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Stearns County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 28 Census places: Waite Park, St. Joseph, Sauk Centre, Cold Spring, Melrose.
Can Stearns County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Minnesota county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Stearns 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.