St. Cloud, MN Metro Area

St. Cloud, MN · Metro Area

202,458Population

A metropolitan statistical area of 2 counties, part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI combined area. The counties are tied together by commuting: people live in one and work in another.

Median household income: $76,497
Median home value: $272,800
Land area: 1,751 sq mi

Market now

Counties in this metro area

Central counties hold the urban core; outlying counties are linked to it by commuting.

County	Role	Population	Median income	Median home value
Stearns County, MN	Central	160,865	$77,066	$273,400
Benton County, MN	Central	41,593	$74,410	$271,000

Largest cities and towns

81 places in our city pages lie in this area; the 25 largest are shown.

Place	Type	Population	Median income
St. Cloud, MN	City	70,629	$61,374
Sartell, MN	City	19,758	$84,131
Sauk Rapids, MN	City	13,852	$71,841
Waite Park, MN	City	8,399	$59,285
St. Joseph, MN	City	7,021	$74,946
Sauk Centre, MN	City	4,621	$62,628
Cold Spring, MN	City	4,249	$72,228
Melrose, MN	City	3,671	$59,677
St. Augusta, MN	City	3,625	$140,227
Watab, MN	—	3,433	$99,018
Collegeville, MN	—	3,351	$115,909
Brockway, MN	—	2,951	$116,250
Albany, MN	City	2,821	$69,167
Wakefield, MN	—	2,800	$108,333
Foley, MN	City	2,675	$58,833
Paynesville, MN	City	2,519	$75,250
Rockville, MN	City	2,452	$105,329
St. Wendel, MN	—	2,315	$105,057
Rice, MN	City	2,085	$107,692
Avon (Township), MN	—	2,004	$107,917
Clearwater, MN	City	1,970	$91,346
Maine Prairie, MN	—	1,965	$100,313
Lynden, MN	—	1,889	$112,083
Eden Lake, MN	—	1,640	$106,518
Avon, MN	City	1,552	$91,563

Also in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI combined area

Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI · metro · 3,713,668 Faribault-Northfield, MN · micro · 67,917 Red Wing, MN · micro · 47,943 Owatonna, MN · micro · 37,439 Hutchinson, MN · micro · 36,798

Demographic Rates

Poverty Rate

12.3%

Unemployment

4.1%

College Educated

28.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1701, S2301, S1501

Race & Ethnicity

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B02001, B03003

Income Profile

Median Household Income

$76,497

Mean Household Income

$97,113

Income Distribution

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S1902, S1903, B19013, B19113

Sex Distribution

Male

50.6%

Female

49.4%

Population Split

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

The sex distribution of a population provides insight into the demographic balance of a community. Significant skews in this ratio can be influenced by local industries (e.g., military bases, mining, or tech hubs), educational institutions, or migration patterns. Understanding this balance is essential for planning public health initiatives and social services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Ancestry

German38.4%

Irish7.8%

Polish6.3%

English4.1%

African3.3%

Mexican2.8%

French2.0%

Italian1.0%

Scottish0.7%

Reported ancestry groups representing the cultural heritage of the population. Percentages may not sum to 100% as residents may report multiple ancestries or none.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B04006

Immigration & Nativity

Nativity Status

7.0%Foreign Born

93.0%Native Born

Citizenship Status

Naturalized51.0%

Non-Citizen49.0%

Period of Entry

2010 or Later52.3%

Before 201047.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table B05001, B05002

Housing Characteristics

Total Housing Units

84,233

Median Rent

$1,042/mo

Median Home Value

$272,800

Median Year Built

1985

Housing Tenure

Housing Types

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table DP04

Education Enrollment

Total Enrolled

55,600

College Enrollment

28.5%

High School

19.7%

College Educated

28.2%

K-12 Enrollment

Higher Education

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1401, S1501

Transportation & Commute

Mean Commute Time

22.0 min

Drive Alone Rate

75.6%

Public Transit

1.2%

Work From Home

10.4%

Commute Mode

Vehicle Ownership

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0801, B08141

Age Distribution

Under 18

24.0%

18-34 Years

25.5%

35-64 Years

34.8%

65+ Years

15.7%

Population Composition

Under 1824.0%

18-3425.5%

35-6434.8%

65+15.7%

The age distribution of a community impacts local services, school requirements, and the labor market. A higher percentage of youth suggests a need for schools and family services, while a larger senior population may indicate a retirement destination or a need for healthcare services.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S0101

Household Composition

Married Couples

48.3%

Single Parent

5.0%

Living Alone

28.9%

Avg Size

2.48

Household Types

Married Couples48.3%

Single Parent5.0%

Living Alone28.9%

Household composition offers insights into the social fabric of a community. A high percentage of married couples often correlates with stability and higher household incomes, while a significant number of single-person households may indicate a younger transient population or an aging community.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1101

Economic Profile

Per Capita Income

$38,346

SNAP Usage

9.3%

Health Insurance

95.4%

Household Income Breakdown

Under $25k14.1%

$25k - $50k17.5%

$50k - $100k32.1%

$100k+36.3%

Key Industries

Manufacturing

13.0%

Retail Trade

11.4%

Education & Health Care

28.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1901, S2201, DP03

Health & Disability

Disability Rate

11.9%With Disability

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability.

Health Insurance Coverage

95.4%With Coverage

Percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population with health insurance coverage.

Why this matters: High disability rates may indicate a need for accessible infrastructure and specialized healthcare services. Health insurance coverage is a key indicator of a community's access to preventative care and financial resilience against medical emergencies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S1810, S2701

Technology Access

Broadband Internet

90.7%vs ~90% National Avg

Computer Ownership

95.3%vs ~95% National Avg

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2020–2024) • Table S2801

Cost of Living & Housing

Cost of Living Scale

Lower is better

87.6

0130

Below average< 97

Near average97 - 103

Above average> 103

Prices compared with the US average (100). 105 means about 5% more expensive than average.

Housing Affordability

Higher is better

147.0

0200

Hard to Afford< 80

Moderate80 - 100

Affordable> 100

100 means a family earning the median family income just qualifies to buy the median-value home (20% down, 30-year loan at 6.72%).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities · NAR affordability formula with Census ACS 2020–2024 incomes and home values and the Freddie Mac 30-year rate (2024)

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