Stearns County, MN

County

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2024 Population

160,865

US Senator

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic(DFL) Party

US Senator

Tina Smith

Democratic(DFL) Party

2024 Median Age

35.1

0.286% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

12.9%

6.06% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$77,066

0.81% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$273,400

6.59% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

84,860

1.12% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Stearns County, MN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

96.2% of the residents in Stearns County, MN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Stearns County, MN are Saint Cloud State University (2,172 degrees awarded in 2023), Rasmussen University-Minnesota (1,985 degrees), and St Cloud Technical and Community College (874 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Stearns County, MN was $273,400, and the homeownership rate was 67.9%.

Most people in Stearns County, MN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Stearns County, MN was 2 cars per household.

Stearns County, MN borders Benton County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Morrison County, MN, Pope County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Todd County, MN, and Wright County, MN.

United States Minnesota St. Cloud, MN

Population & Diversity

Stearns County, MN is home to a population of 161k people, from which 96.2% are citizens. As of 2024, 7.77% of Stearns County, MN residents were born outside of the country (12.5k people).

In 2024, there were 8.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (129k people) in Stearns County, MN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 14.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 4.96k Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.2%

2024 Citizenship

96.6%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 96.2% of Stearns County, MN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Stearns County, MN was 96.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Stearns County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Stearns County, MN

White (Non-Hispanic)
129k ± 464
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
14.5k ± 754
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
4.96k ± 814

4.79%

Hispanic Population

7.7k people

4.79% of the people in Stearns County, MN are hispanic (7.7k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Stearns County, MN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Minnesota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
58,764 ± 5,921 people
Somalia
36,253 ± 4,660 people
India
31,836 ± 4,368 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Minnesota was Mexico, the natal country of 58,764 Minnesota residents, followed by Somalia with 36,253 and India with 31,836.

Foreign-Born Population

7.77%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

12.5k people

7.39%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

11.8k people

As of 2024, 7.77% of Stearns County, MN residents (12.5k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Stearns County, MN was 7.39%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Stearns County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
2,674 ± 263
Gulf War (2001-)
1,733 ± 341
Gulf War (1990s)
983 ± 250

Stearns County, MN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.54 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Stearns County, MN.

Economy

The economy of Stearns County, MN employs 84.9k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Stearns County, MN were Health Care & Social Assistance (14,765 people), Manufacturing (10,713 people), and Retail Trade (10,051 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($130,717), Utilities ($96,528), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($78,750).

Employment

Occupations

84.9k

2024 Value

± 2,138

1.12%

1 Year growth

± 3.46%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Stearns County, MN grew at a rate of 1.12%, from 83.9k employees to 84.9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Stearns County, MN, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (9,709 people), Management Occupations (8,179 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (7,244 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Stearns County, MN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Minnesota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

84.9k

2024 Value

± 2,138

1.12%

1 Year growth

± 3.46%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Stearns County, MN grew at a rate of 1.12%, from 83.9k employees to 84.9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Stearns County, MN, are Health Care & Social Assistance (14,765 people), Manufacturing (10,713 people), and Retail Trade (10,051 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Stearns County, MN, though some of these residents may live in Stearns County, MN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$51,806

Median earning men ± $1,425

$38,504

Median earning women ± $1,856

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($76,995), Wholesale Trade ($74,833), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($74,574).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($66,701), Construction ($54,910), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($51,259).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Y-Axis

2.26%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.93M people employed in Minnesota. This represents a 2.26% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Minnesota.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

378
Construction
302
Other Services (except Public Administration)
236
Retail Trade

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.08M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$685k
Manufacturing
$582k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing the state of Minnesota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Minnesota is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Stearns County, MN. Showing the available data for Minnesota.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (50.9%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.7%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (0.738%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Minnesota for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Minnesota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Amy Klobuchar

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2007
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) is the Minnesota affiliate of the U.S. Democratic Party and its members are counted as Democrats.

Tina Smith

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2018
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Al Franken.

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing Minnesota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Minnesota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Stearns County, MN awarded 5,930 degrees. The student population of Stearns County, MN in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 8,819 male students and 17,266 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Stearns County, MN are White (3,736 and 67%), Black or African American (764 and 13.7%), Hispanic or Latino (325 and 5.83%), and Unknown (322 and 5.78%).

The largest universities in Stearns County, MN by number of degrees awarded are Saint Cloud State University (2,172 and 36.6%), Rasmussen University-Minnesota (1,985 and 33.5%), and St Cloud Technical and Community College (874 and 14.7%).

The most popular majors in Stearns County, MN are Registered Nursing (1,052 and 17.7%), General Business Administration & Management (372 and 6.27%), and Liberal Arts & Sciences (354 and 5.97%).

The median tuition costs in Stearns County, MN are $52,700 for private four year colleges, and $8,811 and $8,811 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Stearns County, MN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 93.3%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 20.7%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 26,085 (33.8% men and 66.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 26,085 students enrolled in Stearns County, MN, 33.8% men and 66.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 15,266 records, of which 64.3% were women and 35.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
153 degrees awarded
General Psychology
137 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
278 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Stearns County, MN was General Business Administration & Management with 153 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Stearns County, MN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Saint Cloud State University
2,172 degrees awarded
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
1,985 degrees awarded
St Cloud Technical and Community College
874 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Saint Cloud State University with 2,172 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 1,928 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Stearns County, MN, which is 0.482 times less than the 4,002 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 3,736 degrees mean that there were 4.89 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 764 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($52,700) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,543) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,400) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Stearns County, MN was $273,400 in 2024, which is 0.822 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $256,500 to $273,400, a 6.59% increase. The homeownership rate in Stearns County, MN is 67.9%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Stearns County, MN have an average commute time of 21.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Stearns County, MN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 13.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Stearns County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.948%.

Housing

Property

$273,400

Median Property Value 2024

±$5,311

$41,663

Median Property Taxes

±$1,271

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Stearns County, MN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Stearns County, MN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

67.9%

Homeownership

2024

65.1%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 67.9% of the housing units in Stearns County, MN were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 67.8%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Stearns County, MN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$77,066

Median Household Income

± $1,832

61.4k

Number of Households

± 1,723

In 2024, the median household income of the 61.4k households in Stearns County, MN grew to $77,066 from the previous year's value of $76,447.

The following chart displays the households in Stearns County, MN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Stearns County, MN is from Minnesota.

0.454

2023 Wage GINI in Minnesota

0.458

2022 Wage GINI in Minnesota

In 2023, the income inequality in Minnesota was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.78% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Minnesota was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Minnesota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Minnesota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (74.7%)
Worked At Home (10.6%)
Carpooled (7.94%)

In 2024, 74.7% of workers in Stearns County, MN drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (10.6%) and those who carpooled to work (7.94%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

21.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Stearns County, MN have a shorter commute time (21.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 2.82% of the workforce in Stearns County, MN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Stearns County, MN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Stearns County, MN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Stearns County, MN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 13.7% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Stearns County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.948%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

12.9% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Stearns County, MN (19.9k out of 154k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Stearns County, MN is White, followed by Black and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 12.1% of the children was living in poverty in Stearns County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 0.3%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 199 in Stearns County, MN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 5.68 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95.1% of the population of Stearns County, MN has health coverage, with 52.1% on employee plans, 16.9% on Medicaid, 11.9% on Medicare, 13.2% on non-group plans, and 1.02% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Stearns County, MN see 1,025 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,025 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1224 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 235 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,025 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Stearns County, MN

Primary care physicians in Stearns County, MN see an average of 1,025 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,025 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Stearns County, MN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.6% under 18 years, 24.4% between 18 and 34 years, 34.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.7% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

4.93%

Uninsured

52.1%

Employer Coverage

16.9%

Medicaid

11.9%

Medicare

13.2%

Non-Group

1.02%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Stearns County, MN grew by 6.32% from 4.64% to 4.93%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Stearns County, MN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 41 in Stearns County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Stearns County, MN.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.4% in Stearns County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Stearns County, MN.