Cost of Living in St. Louis 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 St. Louis County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
St. Louis County ranks #2,266 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 28%)
Sourced county brief
St. Louis County Official GRAPI Reported at 31.2 Percent
In St. Louis County, the official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 31.2%. This is 3.9 percentage points higher than the Minnesota unweighted county mean of 27.3%. The median gross rent was $1,013 per month, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $938. The median home value in the county was recorded at $221,400, while the state unweighted county mean was $238,336. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,052, below the state unweighted mean of $1,116. The median income for renter-occupied households was $37,114. These statistics represent findings from the American Community Survey 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: St. Louis County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.2% of renter household income in St. Louis 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 $1,013 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,052. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $40,520 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. St. Louis County's $1,013 median is 8.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in St. Louis County
Rent Burden
17.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,635
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.0%
of gross income
The median home in St. Louis County may be a stretch
Median home value is $221,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,768 vs. your max of $1,635.
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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