Cost of Living in Stearns 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 Stearns County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Stearns County ranks #2,516 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 20%)
Sourced county brief
Stearns County Median Gross Rent Exceeds State Unweighted Mean
Stearns County's median gross rent is $1,068 per month, a figure that is $130 higher than the Minnesota unweighted county mean of $938. The official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) for renter-occupied units is 29.9%. This official figure is 2.6 percentage points above the state unweighted county mean of 27.3%. For owner-occupied housing, the median selected monthly owner cost was estimated at $1,258, which is $142 above the state unweighted mean of $1,116. The median value for a home in the county is $273,400, compared to the state unweighted mean of $238,336. Median renter-household income was estimated at $42,826. 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: Stearns County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.9% of renter household income in Stearns County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,068 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,258. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,720 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. Stearns County's $1,068 median is 13.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Stearns County
Rent Burden
16.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,798
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in Stearns County may be a stretch
Median home value is $273,400. Estimated monthly cost: $2,183 vs. your max of $1,798.
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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