Ramsey County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Ramsey County, Minnesota had an estimated 542,015 residents on July 1, 2024, down 1.9 percent since the 2020 census base of 552,345, across 152 square miles. County output reached $56.26 bn in 2024, 13,677 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 991 7(a) approvals worth $464.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ramsey County
How many people live in Ramsey County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024542,945
- Households221,327
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$81,568
- Median age36.1
- Median gross rent$1,329 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$326,600
- Home value to household income4.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher45.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree18.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over366,857
- Population under 18125,157
- Share under 1823.1 percent
- Population 65 and over85,596
- Share 65 and over15.8 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64332,192
- Civilian labor force295,340
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.7 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties2nd of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included132nd of 3,222
Ramsey County is the 2nd largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 4.0 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.1 percent against 15.8 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ramsey County
Is Ramsey County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024542,015
- Census 2020 base population552,345
- Population change since the 2020 census base-1.87 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,541
- Births, 20246,557
- Deaths, 20244,858
- Natural change, 20241,699
- Net domestic migration, 2024-3,292
- Net international migration, 20245,142
- Total net migration, 20241,850
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-30,484
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2470th of 3,144
The county has lost 1.87 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ramsey County
Where are people moving to Ramsey County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving19,325
- People arriving, from those returns29,853
- Tax returns filed by households leaving22,382
- Net household movement-3,057
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.20 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-397.0 m
- Average income of an arriving household$61,963
- Average income of a leaving household$71,236
- Largest single originHennepin County (6,163 households)
- Largest single destinationHennepin County (6,135 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 6,163 | 9,282 | $380.7 m |
| Washington County | 2,087 | 3,281 | $164.0 m |
| Dakota County | 1,764 | 2,688 | $92.3 m |
| Anoka County | 1,705 | 2,740 | $98.4 m |
| St. Louis County | 200 | 277 | $9.2 m |
| Chisago County | 181 | 282 | $9.1 m |
| St. Croix County | 176 | 221 | $10.3 m |
| Olmsted County | 175 | 263 | $10.5 m |
Households arriving report $9,273 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Hennepin County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ramsey County
What is the Ramsey County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$56.26 bn
- County GDP, 2023$52.71 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.7 percent
- GDP change over five years27.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes2nd of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes105th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$103,613
Output grew 6.7 percent in the latest year and 27.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ramsey County
Employment by industry in Ramsey County
- Covered employment, annual average325,226
- Establishments reporting15,457
- Average annual pay$77,908
- Average weekly wage$1,498
- Health care and social assistance, employment69,520
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,608
- Manufacturing, employment27,466
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$101,690
- Retail trade, employment23,130
- Retail trade, average annual pay$41,890
- Accommodation and food services, employment22,441
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$29,707
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment14,733
- Management of companies and enterprises, employment14,244
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 69,520 | 2,824 | $63,608 |
| Manufacturing | 27,466 | 626 | $101,690 |
| Retail trade | 23,130 | 1,430 | $41,890 |
| Accommodation and food services | 22,441 | 1,240 | $29,707 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 14,733 | 658 | $50,246 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 14,244 | 166 | $173,147 |
| Finance and insurance | 13,869 | 670 | $122,308 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 13,846 | 1,722 | $110,855 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 69,520 jobs, 21.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ramsey County
How many businesses are in Ramsey County?
- Establishments, all industries13,677
- Employment at those establishments294,664
- Annual payroll$20.39 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ramsey County
Building permits in Ramsey County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,084
- Declared construction value permitted$290.6 m
- Single family units authorized202
- Multifamily units authorized882
- Multifamily share of units81.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$268,079
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.9
Multifamily is 81.4 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ramsey County
SBA loans in Ramsey County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded991
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$464.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$468,532
- Median 7(a) approval$176,800
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,225,300
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)15,492
- Jobs per approval15.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active98
- Distinct industries receiving approvals273
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer9.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms92
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter858
- Franchise loans76
- Franchise share of approvals7.7 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (37)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (164)
- 504 approvals recorded350
- 504 gross approval dollars$227.5 m
- Average 504 approval$649,943
- Median 504 approval$459,500
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval11.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.9
- Most active CDCTwin Cities-Metro Certified Development Company (153)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$691.8 m
The average approval of $468,532 sits well above the median of $176,800, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 9.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ramsey County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ramsey County
Do SBA loans in Ramsey County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded239
- Paid in full226
- Charged off13
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans5.4 percent
- Status: Paid in full226
- Status: Exempt from disclosure586
- Status: Cancelled125
- Status: Charged off13
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed41
Of the 239 loans that have reached a final outcome, 5.4 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ramsey County
SBA lending by place in Ramsey County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending27
- St. Paul, approvals724
- Roseville, approvals48
- White Bear Lake, approvals43
- Maplewood, approvals31
- Vadnais Heights, approvals29
- Shoreview, approvals25
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | 724 | $325,674,900 |
| Roseville | 48 | $35,530,400 |
| White Bear Lake | 43 | $16,747,900 |
| Maplewood | 31 | $12,096,100 |
| Vadnais Heights | 29 | $14,834,900 |
| Shoreview | 25 | $10,750,700 |
| New Brighton | 18 | $5,482,600 |
| Little Canada | 17 | $18,848,900 |
| 19 other borrower cities | 56 | $24,349,300 |
St. Paul accounts for 724 approvals against 48 in Roseville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ramsey County
How large is Ramsey County?
- Land area152 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties87th of 87
- Width, east to west11.9 mi
- Height, north to south16.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land3,572
- Establishments per square mile89.98
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ramsey County
Flood risk in Ramsey County
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book19
- Of those, participating in the NFIP18
- NFIP participation rate94.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Ramsey County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The EPA places Ramsey County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 94.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ramsey County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ramsey County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024542,945
- Households221,327
- Average household size2.45
- Median household income$81,568
- Median age36.1
Common questions
Ramsey County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ramsey County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 542,015 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 542,945, in 221,327 households, ranking 2nd of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ramsey County's population growing?
The population has fallen 1.87 percent since the 2020 census base of 552,345, to 542,015 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 6,557 births against 4,858 deaths, with net migration of 1,850. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ramsey County?
$81,568. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $326,600, which is 4.0 times income, and median gross rent is $1,329 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ramsey County?
13,677 establishments, employing 294,664 people with an annual payroll of $20.39 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ramsey County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 69,520 jobs, 21.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 325,226 jobs at an average annual pay of $77,908, or $1,498 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ramsey County?
991 7(a) approvals totaling $464.3 m since FY2020, across 98 lenders, with a median approval of $176,800, plus 350 504 approvals worth $227.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Ramsey County get paid back?
Of the 239 loans that have reached a final outcome, 226 were paid in full and 13 charged off, a charge-off rate of 5.4 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Ramsey County?
1,084 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $290.6 m. Multifamily was 81.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ramsey County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ramsey County come from?
The largest single origin is Hennepin County, with 6,163 households. Arriving households report an average income of $61,963 against $71,236 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ramsey County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ramsey County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ramsey County
Cities and places in Ramsey.
17 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ramsey County. All 17 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul | city | 307,284 | 724 | Wholly in this county |
| Maplewood | city | 40,695 | 31 | Wholly in this county |
| Roseville | city | 35,802 | 48 | Wholly in this county |
| Shoreview | city | 26,714 | 25 | Wholly in this county |
| White Bear Lake | city | 23,908 | 43 | Wholly in this county |
| New Brighton | city | 22,710 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Mounds View | city | 12,926 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Vadnais Heights | city | 12,838 | 29 | Wholly in this county |
| North St. Paul | city | 12,570 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Little Canada | city | 10,514 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Anthony | city | 9,671 | 1 | 28.4 percent here, 71.6 percent Hennepin County |
| Arden Hills | city | 9,658 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Lake Park | city | 7,032 | None recorded | 2.6 percent here, 97.4 percent Anoka County |
| North Oaks | city | 5,179 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Falcon Heights | city | 5,085 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lauderdale | city | 2,388 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gem Lake | city | 483 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 25 of the county's 991 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Ramsey County, the largest being Fridley (6), Minneapolis (4), White Bear Township (3). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby