RANK #638 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 18 MN · POP 200,123
1YR FORECAST: +2.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +16%
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.
St. Louis County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +6.5% runs above the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.4x — 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: 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. Louis County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| 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 1001 counties.
At 36/100, St. Louis County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $70,069 combined with job growth of -0.4% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in St. Louis County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $221,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,013/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in St. Louis County are both close to flat — population +0.0% YoY and jobs -0.4%. Home values shifted +6.5% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.94% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Louis County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +6.5% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in St. Louis County is now valued at $221,400. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.