Real Estate Investing in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota (56379)

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

Benton County • Population: 17,300 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 56379 (Sauk Rapids, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Sauk Rapids, MN (56379)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $304,466
Avg Monthly Rent $1,133
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,880
% Renters 33.7%

Market Analysis: 56379 Sauk Rapids

Investors eyeing 56379 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $304K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 56379 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $304K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within MN, ZIP 56379 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Benton County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Put differently, 17,300 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 56379 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $304K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Sauk Rapids:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,133/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
St. Cloud, MN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
46 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from St. Cloud, MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 56379

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$74,771/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $242,612 $1,520 4.5% +7.7% $121,306
3BR $285,750 $2,020 5.1% +7.2% $95,250
4BR $313,697 $2,270 5.2% +6.6% $78,424
5BR $373,855 +6.3% $74,771

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$320K$280K$241K$201K$161K$121KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 56379 Compare?

Metric 56379 Sauk Rapids St. Cloud, MN Minnesota
Home Value $304,466 $304,466 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,133 $1,133 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 56379? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 56379 (Sauk Rapids, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📉 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 →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $304,466
Monthly Rent $1,133
Price-to-Rent 22.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
4.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56379

Population: 17,300

💰 Median Household Income
$69,880
This area
$69,880
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.9%
This area
27.9%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Other/Mixed 6.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Black/African American 1.5%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 56379

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$20,128 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Pleasantview Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
722 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,104 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MISSISSIPPI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
817 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,104 Per Student
A Very Good

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,067 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,104 Per Student
A Very Good

SAUK RAPIDS-RICE SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,317 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,104 Per Student
B Good

Sauk Rapids-Rice Online School (SRR

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$20,104 Per Student
C+ Average

Hillside Early Childhood Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
68 Students
💰
$20,104 Per Student
C+ Average

Sauk Rapids ECFE

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$20,104 Per Student
C+ Average

ALC - Sauk Rapids

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
66 Students
💰
$20,297 Per Student
C+ Average

Benton Stearns Education District 1

📚 Grade 12 High School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
8.0:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Benton-Stearns Education District

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
19 Students
👨‍🏫
5.1:1 Class Size
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 2,927 Off-Campus Students
C
St Cloud Technical and Community College
3,565 students · 6.1 mi
C
Model College of Hair Design
108 students · 6.7 mi
C+
Saint Cloud State University
10,514 students · 6.8 mi
C+
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
8,823 students · 8.7 mi
C+
College of Saint Benedict
1,451 students · 12.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,927 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sauk Rapids in MN worth investing in?

Sauk Rapids, MN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $304K and rents near $1,133/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How expensive is real estate in Sauk Rapids, MN?

In Sauk Rapids, MN the median home value sits at $304K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What investment strategy works best in Sauk Rapids, MN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Sauk Rapids, MN best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $304K price point.

Is rental property easy to operate in Sauk Rapids, MN?

MN law balanced for landlords, and Sauk Rapids inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What are rental rates like in Sauk Rapids, MN?

Sauk Rapids, MN rentals go for roughly $1,133/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $304K acquisition costs.

You know 56379 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 56379 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 56379 ranks in St. Cloud, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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