RANK #126 / 996 · POP 200,122 · MN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +2.6%
Encompassing over 6,000 square miles of land, St. Louis County, Minnesota, stands as the largest county east of the Mississippi River, larger than three states combined. Its county seat, Duluth, sits on Lake Superior, serving as a major freshwater port. The county is characterized by vast natural landscapes, including parts of Voyageurs National Park, Superior National Forest, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, offering extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation like hiking, fishing, and canoeing. Commute times vary across this expansive area, with public transit options like Arrowhead Transit and Duluth Transit Authority serving various communities.
Life in St. Louis County often revolves around its natural resources and the communities that have grown around them. Residents report a good quality of life, with high satisfaction in recreational opportunities and road maintenance. The economy is diverse, with historical roots in mining and timber. Key sectors now include healthcare, higher education, and tourism, alongside continued activity in wood and paper products, and shipping. The county also supports initiatives in broadband expansion and renewable energy, reflecting an evolving economic landscape.
Contracting economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.6x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Boeing F-47 Expansion
The Boeing Company
|
$1,800M | Under Construction |
|
New Clean Energy Infrastructure (supporting Google Data Center)
Google, Minnesota Power
|
$700M | Proposed |
|
Google Data Center Campus (Project Loon)
Google
|
$650M | Proposed |
|
UMSL North St. Louis County Business and Workforce District
University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL), St. Louis County
|
$90M | Under Construction |
|
Laskin Energy Center Natural Gas Pipeline Project
Minnesota Power
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Wellington Family Homes Redevelopment
St. Louis County, Knight Development, BGC Advantage
|
$44M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
St. Louis County has a Boom Town Index score of 87/100, ranking #126 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.9% and a median household income of $66,491, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in St. Louis County is $192,900 with median rent at $927/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3447, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.1% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.9%. Home values changed +7.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 3.9% of St. Louis County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.