Stearns County, MN at a glance
Median household income
$77,066$6,422 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Stearns County, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Stearns County, MN? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for St. Cloud, MN MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $874 | $10,488 | $34,960 | 13.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $919 | $11,028 | $36,760 | 14.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,206 | $14,472 | $48,240 | 18.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,604 | $19,248 | $64,160 | 25% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,873 | $22,476 | $74,920 | 29.2% |
What a typical income covers in Stearns County, MN
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $77,066 a year ($6,422 a month before tax).
What $77,066 leaves after Minnesota taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Minnesota tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Minnesota
Living in Stearns County, MN: common questions
What is the median household income in Stearns County, MN?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Stearns County, MN is $77,066 per year (approximately $6,422 per month).
What is the average rent in Stearns County, MN?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $874 for a studio, $919 for one bedroom, $1,206 for two, $1,604 for three and $1,873 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Stearns County, MN expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Stearns County, MN?
To keep a $1,206 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $48,240 a year, or $4,020 a month. That is 63% of what the typical household in Stearns County, MN earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Stearns County, MN?
On the local median income of $77,066 ($6,422 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,211 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,927 for everything else and $1,284 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,206 takes 38% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Stearns County, MN?
Homes in Minnesota paid 17.5¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $158. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.