St. Cloud: Economy & Jobs
$61,374 is the median household income in St. Cloud (1.3× below Stearns County median $77,066; 1.5× below Minnesota median $89,062), with homes at a median value of $225,000. The surrounding county supports 17,384 jobs (avg $55,955).
- $69,499 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income (vs Minnesota $91,811).
Income & Affordability
Median household income $61,374 — below the Minnesota median ($87,024). Poverty rate 20.2% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 41% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 3.7× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 19.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 41.0% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 20.2% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 3.8% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $20,390 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,417,094 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $69,499 (vs Minnesota $91,811) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $69,638 |
| Median Household Income | $61,374 (vs Minnesota $87,024) |
| Poverty Rate | 20.2% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $61,374 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.1% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 8% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 19.80 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 8.5% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 17,384 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $972,727,136 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $55,955 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,881,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% (vs Minnesota 2.8%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 5 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 127,078 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 25,415.60 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Milk, Crop Totals, Poultry Totals, Grain |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 968 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 15,505 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 814,766 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 3 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 23 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Used Car Dealers | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 8 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Grooming | 7 |
| Local Businesses · Auto Repair | 18 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 13 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 19 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 7 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 4 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (4)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (1)
| Nearest Snap · Name | St. Cloud Area Farmers Market |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 1 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | ST CLOUD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $236,635,137 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 5,718.73 (vs Minnesota $8,335) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 41,379 people (vs Minnesota 32,889) |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 71.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 5.4% |
| Pct Walked | 8.5% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 30.6 years (vs Minnesota 37.5y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 25.0% |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | limited |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12