RANK #191 / 1001 NAT · #1 / 18 MN · POP 160,865
1YR FORECAST: +2.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +21%
Stearns County, Minnesota, is often recognized for its granite industry, earning St. Cloud the nickname "Granite City" due to its historic quarries. Located in central Minnesota, with St. Cloud as its largest city and county seat, it sits about 65 miles northwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul, making it accessible via Interstate 94. The county offers a blend of city and country living, characterized by rolling hills, woodlands, and numerous lakes and rivers. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for biking, boating, fishing, hiking, and even unique activities like rock climbing and SCUBA diving in former quarries at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve.
Life in Stearns County offers a mix of community types, from the regional center of St. Cloud to smaller towns like Sartell, St. Joseph, and Cold Spring. Public schools in the county are generally above average. Commute options include local bus services and regional transit connecting to surrounding communities and the broader metropolitan area. The economy is diverse, with agriculture, particularly dairy and organic farming, playing a leading role. Manufacturing, especially granite production, also contributes significantly, alongside growing sectors like healthcare, tourism, retail, and service industries. The presence of institutions like St. Cloud State University, the College of Saint Benedict, and Saint John's University further shapes the community and its economic landscape.
Stearns County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +2.6% matches the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 7.7x — 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 Stearns County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Justice Center Project
Stearns County
|
$325M | Planned |
|
Paynesville Wind Farm
Geronimo Energy (Paynesville Wind, LLC)
|
$155M | Operating |
|
Black Oak Getty Wind Farm
Geronimo Energy (Black Oak Wind, LLC and Getty Wind, LLC)
|
$135M | Operating |
|
Broadband Infrastructure Expansion
Stearns County, various providers
|
$60M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., Geronimo Power, Enel Green Power NA, Inc.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Stearns County ranks #191 out of 1001 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 81/100, placing it in the top tier nationally. Median household income is $77,066 and the underlying growth metrics (housing, migration, income) hold up against peer counties.
Housing in Stearns County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $273,400 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,068/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Stearns County's population is growing — up +0.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.2%). Home values shifted +2.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.01% of Stearns County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.