Stearns County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Stearns County, Minnesota had an estimated 163,997 residents on July 1, 2024, up 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 158,299, across 1,343 square miles. County output reached $12.62 bn in 2024, 4,474 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 369 7(a) approvals worth $161.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Stearns County
How many people live in Stearns County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024160,865
- Households61,403
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$77,066
- Median age35.1
- Median gross rent$1,068 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$273,400
- Home value to household income3.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree9.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over99,770
- Population under 1838,011
- Share under 1823.6 percent
- Population 65 and over25,871
- Share 65 and over16.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6496,983
- Civilian labor force88,499
- Unemployment rate4.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over72.0 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties8th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included430th of 3,222
Stearns County is the 8th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.5 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.6 percent against 16.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Stearns County
Is Stearns County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024163,997
- Census 2020 base population158,299
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.60 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,937
- Births, 20242,069
- Deaths, 20241,189
- Natural change, 2024880
- Net domestic migration, 2024-481
- Net international migration, 20241,531
- Total net migration, 20241,050
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-1,682
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents754th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.60 percent 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.
Stearns County
Where are people moving to Stearns County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving4,378
- People arriving, from those returns7,397
- Tax returns filed by households leaving4,702
- Net household movement-324
- Adjusted gross income arriving$247.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-24.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$56,619
- Average income of a leaving household$57,836
- Largest single originBenton County (747 households)
- Largest single destinationBenton County (757 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 747 | 1,329 | $38.2 m |
| Sherburne County | 423 | 719 | $20.2 m |
| Hennepin County | 373 | 561 | $24.5 m |
| Wright County | 247 | 429 | $15.3 m |
| Anoka County | 126 | 212 | $7.0 m |
| Ramsey County | 125 | 217 | $6.2 m |
| Kandiyohi County | 107 | 188 | $4.5 m |
| Meeker County | 101 | 179 | $6.6 m |
Households arriving report $1,217 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Benton 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.
Stearns County
What is the Stearns County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$12.62 bn
- County GDP, 2023$11.76 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.3 percent
- GDP change over five years37.1 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes8th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes369th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,439
Output grew 7.3 percent in the latest year and 37.1 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.
Stearns County
Employment by industry in Stearns County
- Covered employment, annual average87,252
- Establishments reporting4,733
- Average annual pay$62,313
- Average weekly wage$1,198
- Health care and social assistance, employment16,483
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$68,706
- Manufacturing, employment11,532
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$67,375
- Retail trade, employment11,347
- Retail trade, average annual pay$39,344
- Accommodation and food services, employment6,059
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,221
- Construction, employment5,448
- Wholesale trade, employment4,127
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 16,483 | 587 | $68,706 |
| Manufacturing | 11,532 | 260 | $67,375 |
| Retail trade | 11,347 | 619 | $39,344 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,059 | 382 | $21,221 |
| Construction | 5,448 | 520 | $93,145 |
| Wholesale trade | 4,127 | 182 | $72,349 |
| Finance and insurance | 3,573 | 276 | $95,839 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3,301 | 151 | $64,198 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 16,483 jobs, 18.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Stearns County
How many businesses are in Stearns County?
- Establishments, all industries4,474
- Employment at those establishments84,123
- Annual payroll$4.89 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents27.8
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.
Stearns County
Building permits in Stearns County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024572
- Declared construction value permitted$170.4 m
- Single family units authorized356
- Multifamily units authorized216
- Multifamily share of units37.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$297,915
- Units authorized per 1,000 households9.3
Single-family homes are 62.2 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Stearns County
SBA loans in Stearns County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded369
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$161.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$437,207
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$34,680
- 90th percentile approval$1,045,680
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,911
- Jobs per approval13.3
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active45
- Distinct industries receiving approvals152
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer11.9 percent
- Loans on real estate terms44
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter297
- Franchise loans22
- Franchise share of approvals6.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (16)
- Most active lenderFalcon National Bank (67)
- 504 approvals recorded184
- 504 gross approval dollars$114.3 m
- Average 504 approval$621,288
- Median 504 approval$411,500
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval8.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.8
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (162)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$275.6 m
The average approval of $437,207 sits well above the median of $200,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 11.9 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.
Stearns County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Stearns County
Do SBA loans in Stearns County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded109
- Paid in full105
- Charged off4
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans3.7 percent
- Status: Paid in full105
- Status: Exempt from disclosure225
- Status: Cancelled24
- Status: Charged off4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
Of the 109 loans that have reached a final outcome, 3.7 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.
Stearns County
SBA lending by place in Stearns County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending27
- St. Cloud, approvals134
- Waite Park, approvals39
- St. Joseph, approvals30
- Richmond, approvals28
- Sartell, approvals25
- Cold Spring, approvals21
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| St. Cloud | 134 | $55,435,900 |
| Waite Park | 39 | $20,460,200 |
| St. Joseph | 30 | $12,822,700 |
| Richmond | 28 | $11,303,300 |
| Sartell | 25 | $5,298,500 |
| Cold Spring | 21 | $10,764,100 |
| Albany | 12 | $4,981,300 |
| Melrose | 10 | $3,399,400 |
| 19 other borrower cities | 70 | $36,863,900 |
St. Cloud accounts for 134 approvals against 39 in Waite Park. 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.
Stearns County
How large is Stearns County?
- Land area1,343 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties14th of 87
- Width, east to west52.9 mi
- Height, north to south34 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary9
- Residents per square mile of land120
- Establishments per square mile3.33
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.
Stearns County
Flood risk in Stearns County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Stearns County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270546
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book21
- Of those, participating in the NFIP16
- NFIP participation rate76.2 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Stearns County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Stearns County (community 270546), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Stearns 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. 76.2 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 Stearns 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 Stearns County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024160,865
- Households61,403
- Average household size2.62
- Median household income$77,066
- Median age35.1
Common questions
Stearns County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Stearns County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 163,997 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 160,865, in 61,403 households, ranking 8th of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Stearns County's population growing?
The population has grown 3.60 percent since the 2020 census base of 158,299, to 163,997 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,069 births against 1,189 deaths, with net migration of 1,050. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Stearns County?
$77,066. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $273,400, which is 3.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,068 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Stearns County?
4,474 establishments, employing 84,123 people with an annual payroll of $4.89 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 Stearns County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 16,483 jobs, 18.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 87,252 jobs at an average annual pay of $62,313, or $1,198 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Stearns County?
369 7(a) approvals totaling $161.3 m since FY2020, across 45 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 184 504 approvals worth $114.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Stearns County get paid back?
Of the 109 loans that have reached a final outcome, 105 were paid in full and 4 charged off, a charge-off rate of 3.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Stearns County?
572 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $170.4 m. Multifamily was 37.8 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Stearns 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 Stearns County come from?
The largest single origin is Benton County, with 747 households. Arriving households report an average income of $56,619 against $57,836 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Stearns 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 Stearns 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.
Stearns County
Cities and places in Stearns.
33 Census places lie wholly or partly in Stearns County. All 33 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. Cloud | city | 70,629 | 134 | 79.0 percent here, 12.4 percent Sherburne County, 8.6 percent Benton County |
| Sartell | city | 19,758 | 25 | 88.6 percent here, 11.4 percent Benton County |
| Waite Park | city | 8,399 | 39 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Joseph | city | 7,021 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Sauk Centre | city | 4,621 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Cold Spring | city | 4,249 | 21 | Wholly in this county |
| Melrose | city | 3,671 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Augusta | city | 3,625 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Albany | city | 2,821 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Paynesville | city | 2,519 | 10 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockville | city | 2,452 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Clearwater | city | 1,970 | 2 | 4.0 percent here, 96.0 percent Wright County |
| St. John's University | CDP | 1,580 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Avon | city | 1,552 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Richmond | city | 1,431 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Eden Valley | city | 1,002 | 2 | 47.0 percent here, 53.0 percent Meeker County |
| Freeport | city | 787 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Belgrade | city | 758 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Holdingford | city | 718 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Kimball | city | 709 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Stephen | city | 694 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Brooten | city | 602 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Martin | city | 313 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| New Munich | city | 299 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Greenwald | city | 270 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairhaven | CDP | 255 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elrosa | city | 217 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Meire Grove | city | 167 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Spring Hill | city | 97 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roscoe | city | 96 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Henry | city | 77 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Rosa | city | 62 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| St. Anthony | city | 57 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 9 of the county's 369 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Stearns County, the largest being Rice (5), Minneapolis (1), Villard (1). 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.