Stearns County, MN Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 162,437 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 116.9 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.47% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 35.1 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 60,895 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Stearns County grew by 8.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 159,394 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Stearns County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,786 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.31% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Stearns County is about 13% lower than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $283,184 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,057 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.8% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Stearns County is about 22.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,057 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Stearns County spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 145 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.4 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.8 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 145 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,493 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 6,502 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 813 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Stearns County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Minnesota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Stearns County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.49 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Stearns County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Stearns County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.9 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.7% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.3% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Stearns County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Stearns County, Minnesota?
The population of Stearns County, Minnesota is 162,437, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Stearns County, Minnesota?
The population density of Stearns County, Minnesota is 116.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Stearns County, Minnesota?
The median household income in Stearns County, Minnesota is $76,786, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Stearns County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Stearns County, Minnesota is $283,184, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Stearns County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Stearns County, Minnesota is 4.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.