RANK #319 / 996 · POP 158,622 · MN
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.5%
Stearns County, Minnesota, is often recognized for its granite industry, earning St. Cloud the nickname "Granite City" due to its historic quarries. Located in central Minnesota, with St. Cloud as its largest city and county seat, it sits about 65 miles northwest of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis–St. Paul, making it accessible via Interstate 94. The county offers a blend of city and country living, characterized by rolling hills, woodlands, and numerous lakes and rivers. Outdoor recreation is a significant draw, with opportunities for biking, boating, fishing, hiking, and even unique activities like rock climbing and SCUBA diving in former quarries at Quarry Park and Nature Preserve.
Life in Stearns County offers a mix of community types, from the regional center of St. Cloud to smaller towns like Sartell, St. Joseph, and Cold Spring. Public schools in the county are generally above average. Commute options include local bus services and regional transit connecting to surrounding communities and the broader metropolitan area. The economy is diverse, with agriculture, particularly dairy and organic farming, playing a leading role. Manufacturing, especially granite production, also contributes significantly, alongside growing sectors like healthcare, tourism, retail, and service industries. The presence of institutions like St. Cloud State University, the College of Saint Benedict, and Saint John's University further shapes the community and its economic landscape.
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 4.0x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Justice Center Project
Stearns County
|
$325M | Planned |
|
Paynesville Wind Farm
Geronimo Energy (Paynesville Wind, LLC)
|
$155M | Operating |
|
Black Oak Getty Wind Farm
Geronimo Energy (Black Oak Wind, LLC and Getty Wind, LLC)
|
$135M | Operating |
|
Broadband Infrastructure Expansion
Stearns County, various providers
|
$60M | Under Construction |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (multiple projects)
Various (e.g., Geronimo Power, Enel Green Power NA, Inc.)
|
$50M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Stearns County has a Boom Town Index score of 68/100, ranking #319 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.4% and a median household income of $73,105, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Stearns County is $241,100 with median rent at $975/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3032, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.6% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.4%. Home values changed +3.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 6.28% of Stearns County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.