Your life in Stearns County, Minnesota

What stands out

What stands out about Stearns County: life expectancy is in the top 7% of American counties (80.5 years), the average temperature is in the bottom 8% of American counties (45°F), and violent crime is in the bottom 11% of American counties (3.1 per 1,000). Within Minnesota it ranks 21st of 87 counties for life expectancy.

Where you are

You live in Stearns County, Minnesota. 158,622 people live here with you. The population grew 0.5% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -708).

Minnesota has a graduated income tax that reaches 9.85%, taxes Social Security above income thresholds, and has an estate tax with a $3 million exemption. In exchange it ranks near the top in health outcomes, school results and household income, and the Twin Cities metro holds more Fortune 500 headquarters per capita than any other. Winters are long and cold.

Money

The typical household here brings in $73,105 a year, higher than 80% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $62,313. Unemployment runs 2.7%, lower than 75% of American counties. 8% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 20 minutes each way.

Minnesota takes 6.1% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,488 a year.

Home

The median home costs $320K, pricier than 74% of American counties, about 2.6 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,045 a month. Property tax is 1.02% of home value, roughly $2,470 a year on that median home, higher than 62% of American counties. 67% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, lower than 89% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 10 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 80.5 years, longer than 93% of American counties. There are 498 active physicians in the county, about 31.4 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.5 of 5 stars. 6.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.20 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 86% of American counties. 93% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 10 points. 72% of eligible voters turned out. Under Minnesota law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 45°F, highs near 55 and lows near 35, colder than 92% of American counties. About 32 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 81 out of 100, riskier than 81% of American counties; the county has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 210 Mbps down, faster than 55% of American counties. There are 6 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries, 6 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Minnesota tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.