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St. Croix County, WI

RANK #427 / 996  ·  POP 93,752  ·  WI

PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.0%

St. Croix County sits in the middle of the pack — stable but not accelerating.

[01] Why St. Croix County?

St. Croix County, Wisconsin, distinguishes itself with Hudson, its county seat, a town known for its riverfront charm and artistic community along the St. Croix River. Located on Wisconsin's western edge, the county is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, with Hudson just 13 miles from St. Paul. This proximity allows for a manageable commute, primarily via I-94, balancing a quieter community feel with access to urban amenities. The county's landscape features rolling hills, river valleys, and forests, offering extensive outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, fishing, and kayaking in places such as Willow River State Park and the St. Croix County Parks system.

Life in St. Croix County often appeals to families and young professionals, many of whom commute to jobs in the nearby Twin Cities. The public schools in the county are highly rated. The local economy, while historically rooted in agriculture, particularly dairy, has seen growth in sectors like manufacturing, construction, and technology. Recent economic developments include initiatives focused on workforce housing and training, addressing regional needs in advanced manufacturing skills.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
6.8x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.1%

Below national median

Home Prices
+1.4%

Above national median

Climate & Terrain
-1.4

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
15x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 6.8x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

St. Croix County U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
93,752
+1.36% YoY
Median Household Income
$97,950
Median Home Value
$323,900
+1.44% 12mo
Median Rent
$1,127
Average Annual Pay
$55,261
+2.1% YoY
Employment
36,959
+2.1% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3024
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.13%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$426,250
Days on Market
84
Slower market
Months of Supply
3.2
Balanced market
Sale-to-List Ratio
98.7%
Near asking price
Sold Above List
20.3%
Listings w/ Price Drops
13.0%
Building Permits (2024)
400
Single-Family Permits
354

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$781M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Ten Mile Creek Solar Project (Phase 1) with Battery Storage
Xcel Energy
$450M Proposed
Northern Prairie Solar
Northern Prairie Solar, LLC (Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC)
$101M Under Construction
Government Center Expansion and Renovation
St. Croix County
$80M Under Construction
St. Croix Valley Food Bank New Construction
St. Croix Valley Food Bank Inc.
$50M Proposed
Bella Rose Planned Residential Development
N/A
$50M Approved
Park Place Village - North Planned Residential Development
N/A
$50M Proposed

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.1% 38 percentile
Population Growth +1.4% 80 percentile
Income Growth +7.3% 21 percentile
Vacancy Rate 0.2% 100 percentile
Home Price Change +1.4% 52 percentile
Rent Growth +1.6% 28 percentile
Price/Rent 15x 34 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Croix County, WI a good place to move to?

St. Croix County has a Boom Town Index score of 57/100, ranking #427 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +2.1% and a median household income of $97,950, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.

Is St. Croix County affordable?

The median home value in St. Croix County is $323,900 with median rent at $1,127/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3024, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is St. Croix County growing or shrinking?

Population growth: +1.4% year-over-year. Job growth: +2.1%. Home values changed +1.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to St. Croix County?

Yes — 2.13% of St. Croix County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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