RANK #685 / 1001 NAT · #28 / 29 WI · POP 96,033
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
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.
St. Croix County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.8% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 17.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where St. Croix County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| 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.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 31/100, St. Croix County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $103,046 combined with job growth of +1.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in St. Croix County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $377,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,271/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
St. Croix County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +1.3% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.1% clip. Home values shifted +1.8% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.2% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Croix County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.