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METRO AREA

St. Cloud Metro

St. Cloud, MN · 2 counties · 205,854 residents (2025 est.) · 1,751 sq mi
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The short version

With 202,458 people, St. Cloud is a metro area. That puts it in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income. The median age is 35.3, younger than the US median of 38.9. 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Growth has run 21% since 2000, or 35,066 more people. The foreign-born share is 7%.

At a glance
Lower income
median household income $76,520, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about St. Cloud

What changed most since 1990

  • Black share0.3% → 8.3% (+8.0 pts)US over the same years: +0.2 pts
  • Hispanic share0.4% → 4.5% (+4.1 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts

Among the 23 metro and micro areas based in Minnesota

  • 9th in household income$76,520
  • 12th in share with a bachelor's degree28.3%
  • 9th in home value$272,907
  • 9th in diversity score40.7
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
202,458
+21%since 2000
from 167,392 in 2000
205,854 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
116 / sq mi
+21%since 2000
from 96 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.3
+12%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,751 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
144K160K176K192K208K19902000201020202024St. Cloud
2024202K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.3%(12,686)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.4%(13,050)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(14,409)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.9%(15,977)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.4%(19,067)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.4%(25,161)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(25,179)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.4%(21,055)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.9%(24,176)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 749.1%(18,481)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.5%(9,195)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(4,022)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$76,520
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,332 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,346
+100%since 2000
from $19,169 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.9%
+21.2 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.3%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.431
+3%since 2010
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade13%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$272,907
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $101,527 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,050
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $474 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.6%
−4.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
32.4% rent
Vacancy rate
7.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.49 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.48 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.6
+6%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
36
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(159,532)
Black0.8%(1,326)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(2,134)
Asian1.5%(2,476)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81.4%(164,838)
Black8.3%(16,790)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(9,160)
Asian1.7%(3,526)
Other4%(8,144)
Diversity Score
41
+164%since 2009
from 15 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
43
+7%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.8%(5,604)
Puerto Rican0.4%(790)
Cuban0.3%(515)
Dominican0.2%(369)
Nicaraguan0.1%(298)
Guatemalan0.1%(172)
Colombian0.1%(168)
Peruvian0.1%(125)
Salvadoran0.1%(123)
Ecuadorian0.1%(117)
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data
Bolivian0.1%(103)
Honduran0.1%(100)
Spaniard0%(70)
Argentine0%(33)
Chilean0%(5)
Asian origin
Vietnamese0.3%(653)
Hmong0.3%(629)
Chinese0.2%(445)
Asian Indian0.2%(423)
Korean0.1%(268)
Laotian0.1%(226)
Japanese0.1%(192)
Filipino0.1%(182)
Nepalese0.1%(115)
Cambodian0%(49)
Taiwanese0%(27)
+ 2 more asian origin groups with data
Thai0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(78)
Chamorro0%(29)
Ancestry
German38.4%(77,700)
Irish7.8%(15,849)
Norwegian7.5%(15,159)
Polish6.3%(12,671)
Swedish4.4%(8,889)
English4.1%(8,258)
American2.6%(5,214)
French2%(4,092)
Somali1.7%(3,357)
Dutch1.1%(2,126)
Italian1%(2,074)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Finnish0.9%(1,762)
Scottish0.7%(1,435)
Czech0.7%(1,433)
Danish0.6%(1,274)
French Canadian0.5%(1,077)
Arab0.4%(725)
Russian0.4%(709)
Austrian0.2%(492)
Swiss0.2%(465)
Nigerian0.2%(464)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(427)
Slovene0.2%(406)
Hungarian0.2%(361)
Welsh0.2%(309)
Belgian0.1%(280)
Ukrainian0.1%(206)
British0.1%(203)
West Indian0.1%(203)
Greek0.1%(179)
Slovak0.1%(168)
Iranian0.1%(153)
Latvian0.1%(149)
Canadian0.1%(148)
Ghanaian0.3%(145)
Lithuanian0.1%(137)
Kenyan0.1%(131)
Portuguese0.1%(126)
Jamaican0.1%(121)
Croatian0.1%(108)
Romanian0%(66)
Iraqi0%(52)
Lebanese0%(49)
Ethiopian0%(32)
Serbian0%(26)
Haitian0%(24)
Armenian0.1%(21)
Brazilian0%(21)
Jordanian0%(10)
Syrian0%(7)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.3%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 21.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 86.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+60%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 8.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.4%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 7.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 72.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
83.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 83.7% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
7.0%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.2%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 10.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2013
from 8.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.7%
+12.1 ptssince 2017
from 78.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 92.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
85.6%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 83.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
89.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2016
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married40.1%(32,811)
Married49.3%(40,403)
Widowed2%(1,635)
Divorced8.6%(7,036)
Women 15+
Never married33.6%(27,015)
Married48.9%(39,291)
Widowed7.5%(6,054)
Divorced10%(8,068)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2013
from 8.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
58.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2020
from 61.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 16.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
20.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 18.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 3.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2020
from 76.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
36.3%
+2.2 ptssince 2020
from 34.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.7%(2,173)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)20%(1,916)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era35.1%(3,359)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.8%(463)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.1%(102)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 9,560 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

St. Cloud, decade by decade

St. Cloud population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990148,976$65,596$146,97817.0%3.9
2000167,392$77,115$184,94821.0%11.4
2010189,093$74,215$249,94822.8%20.9
2020199,671$77,903$232,97226.8%38.5
2024202,458$76,520$272,90728.3%40.7

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

St. CloudCENTRAL72,647Sartell19,918Sauk Rapids13,768Waite Park8,450St. Joseph6,846Sauk Centre4,663Cold Spring4,329Melrose3,888St. Augusta3,799Albany2,873Foley2,650Paynesville2,591Rockville2,492Clearwater2,225Rice2,212Avon1,777St. John's University1,580Richmond1,515Royalton1,274Kimball924St. Stephen827Holdingford745Belgrade737Freeport678New Munich363St. Martin313Gilman255Fairhaven255Elrosa218Greenwald207

The 30 most populous of 37 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

What's inside

2 component counties

Stearns CountyCENTRAL164,110Benton CountyCENTRAL41,744
Drill deeper

Metros similar to St. Cloud

Racine
Pop 198,919
Hilo
Pop 210,043
Billings
Pop 193,603
Dover
Pop 194,786
Places similar to St. Cloud
Head to head

Compare St. Cloud side by side

ST. CLOUD VS
Racine
Income$78,096+2%
Home value$251,400−8%
Population198,919−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ST. CLOUD VS
Hilo
Income$78,639+3%
Home value$519,300+90%
Population210,043+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ST. CLOUD VS
Billings
Income$77,183+1%
Home value$356,419+31%
Population193,603−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ST. CLOUD VS
Dover
Income$74,477−3%
Home value$316,600+16%
Population194,786−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in St. Cloud, MN?

St. Cloud, MN has about 202,458 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in St. Cloud, MN?

The typical household in St. Cloud, MN earns about $76,520 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is St. Cloud, MN expensive?

In St. Cloud, MN, the median home is worth about $272,907, and the typical rent is about $1,050 a month.

How educated are people in St. Cloud, MN?

About 28.3% of adults age 25 and over in St. Cloud, MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in St. Cloud, MN?

About 12.3% of people in St. Cloud, MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has St. Cloud, MN grown since 1990?

Yes, St. Cloud, MN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 53,482 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →