Real Estate Investing in Stearns County, Minnesota

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

15 ZIP codes • Population: 135,465

Should you buy in Stearns County, MN? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals β€” some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Stearns County, MN?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

5.0% 5yr CAGR

3.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $318,847
Avg Monthly Rent $1,178
ZIP Codes 15

Investing in Stearns County Real Estate

Stearns County spans 15 ZIP codes across 14 cities in Minnesota, with a population of 135,465. The county's soft investment metrics reflect deeper structural challenges β€” worth studying before making commitments.

Investors considering Stearns, Minnesota should understand what the β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜† rating represents β€” a region with material challenges, not a temporary rough patch.

The 0% renter share in Stearns masks uneven tenant quality across ZIPs, and $N/AK median income leaves little cushion against economic shocks.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Stearns County, MN. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in Stearns County, MN?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Avg Home Value
$318,847
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,178
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (MN)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on St. Cloud, MN metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
46 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Stearns County

4 Colleges 15,638 Students 2,927 Off-Campus Renters
C+
Saint Cloud State University
4-Year Public Β· 10,514 students
πŸ“ ~1,188 students rent off-campus
C+
College of Saint Benedict
4-Year Private Β· 1,451 students
C
Model College of Hair Design
Vocational For-Profit Β· 108 students
C
St Cloud Technical and Community College
2-Year Public Β· 3,565 students
πŸ“ ~1,739 students rent off-campus

Investor Insight: With 2,927 students living off-campus, Stearns County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Stearns County

ZIP Codes in Stearns County, MN

56301 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Saint Cloud
Population 34,883
Avg Home $312,414
Avg Rent $1,297/mo
56303 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Saint Cloud
Population 26,031
Avg Home $242,541
Avg Rent $1,064/mo
56377 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Sartell
Population 21,008
Avg Home $340,940
Avg Rent $1,527/mo
56374 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Saint Joseph
Population 10,020
Avg Home $337,239
Avg Rent $2,008/mo
56320 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cold Spring
Population 8,553
Avg Home $373,772
Avg Rent $1,224/mo
56378 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Sauk Centre
Population 8,433
Avg Home $322,863
Avg Rent $936/mo
56387 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Waite Park
Population 7,705
Avg Home $252,558
Avg Rent $1,228/mo
56310 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Avon
Population 5,361
Avg Home $382,188
Avg Rent $936/mo
56368 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Richmond
Population 4,162
Avg Home $370,635
Avg Rent $936/mo
55382 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
South Haven
Population 3,640
Avg Home $414,163
Avg Rent $1,431/mo
56340 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Holdingford
Population 2,433
Avg Home $359,297
Avg Rent $1,098/mo
56331 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Freeport
Population 2,176
Avg Home $382,683
Avg Rent $954/mo
56369 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Rockville
Population 575
Avg Home $264,393
Avg Rent $936/mo
56356 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
New Munich
Population 264
Avg Home $219,133
Avg Rent $1,017/mo
56335 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Greenwald
Population 221
Avg Home $207,880
Avg Rent $1,071/mo

Screen every market in Stearns County

Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

View Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Stearns County

Is in MN worth investing in?

, MN rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $319K and rents near $1,178/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What do landlords charge for rent in, MN?

The typical rental in, MN commands about $1,178/mo monthly. That rent profile stable cash flow against the $319K purchase basis.

What kind of tenants rent in, MN?

Tenant demand in, MN is solid. The local workforce $1,178/mo rents across most rental classes.

How does the, MN market compare with MN as a whole?

, MN comes in broadly in line with on the MN comparison. Specific drivers include $319K prices and $1,178/mo rents.

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate Stearns County, MN.

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.