Cost of Living in Ramsey County, Minnesota
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Ramsey County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Ramsey County ranks #2,831 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Ramsey County Median Gross Rent Exceeds Minnesota Mean
In Ramsey County, the median gross rent was estimated at $1,329 per month. This figure is $391 above the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $938. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.5%, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.3%. The median home value in the county was $326,600, while the state unweighted county mean was $238,336. For owner-occupied units, the median selected monthly owner cost was $1,579, compared to the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $1,116. Median renter-household income was $51,096, and the overall median household income was $81,568. These data points represent snapshots from the 2020-2024 5-year estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Ramsey County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.5% of renter household income in Ramsey County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,329 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,579. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $53,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Minnesota unweighted mean of county median rents is $938 per month. Ramsey County's $1,329 median is 41.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Ramsey County
Rent Burden
19.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,903
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.2%
of gross income
The median home in Ramsey County may be a stretch
Median home value is $326,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,607 vs. your max of $1,903.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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