St. Cloud
RANK #402 / 996 NAT · #11 / 18 MN · POP 158,622
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
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.
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 4.0x — home prices are low 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
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 996 counties.
Stearns County scores 59/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#402). Median household income is $73,105 and job growth is running at +1.4%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Stearns County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $241,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.30, with rents averaging $975/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Stearns County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.6% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.4% clip — and home values reflect that momentum, rising +3.7% over the past 12 months.
In significant numbers — 6.28% 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.