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Living in
Sauk Rapids.
About
Life in Sauk Rapids
Living in Sauk Rapids means being part of a growing but still-manageable community on the eastern edge of the St. Cloud metro area, where you're close enough to regional job opportunities without feeling swallowed by urban sprawl. Most people here work either locally or commute just over 20 minutes to jobs in St.
Sauk Rapids at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Foreign-Born
2.5%
Broadband Internet
92.6%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Sauk Rapids: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sauk Rapids, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (25.9%), and 2.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.1%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.1%
of households
Married Couples
41.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Sauk Rapids
In Sauk Rapids, rent runs 25% below the MN average, and home values are 22% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
35.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,778
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1988
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $304,372 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MN average
Unemployment in Sauk Rapids
Unemployment in Benton County, which includes Sauk Rapids, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
Sauk Rapids: Benton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Benton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Sauk Rapids Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.4 min avg
How Sauk Rapids residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sauk Rapids, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 79% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Saint Cloud Regional Airport (STC)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 67 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 52% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sauk Rapids runs 52% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
159.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,027.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sauk Rapids Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
51.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Benton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Benton County, which includes Sauk Rapids, the most common type is winter storm, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 3 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2023 | 7 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 5 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $350,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2019 | 9 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 7 | Winter Storm | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Benton County, county-wide
Air Quality37 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Stearns County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 22 miles from Sauk Rapids) is typically good — 270 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
37
Good Days
270
per year
Moderate Days
76
per year
Unhealthy Days
3
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Stearns County, MN (22 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 6°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sauk Rapids has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 6°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
54°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
24°/6°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
30.3"
Annual Snowfall
47.9"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
172
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 3°F | 0.67" |
| Feb | 26°F | 7°F | 0.76" |
| Mar | 39°F | 20°F | 1.57" |
| Apr | 54°F | 32°F | 2.61" |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 3.66" |
| Jun | 77°F | 55°F | 3.75" |
| Jul | 82°F | 59°F | 3.60" |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 4.00" |
| Sep | 71°F | 48°F | 3.01" |
| Oct | 56°F | 36°F | 2.61" |
| Nov | 39°F | 23°F | 1.37" |
| Dec | 26°F | 10°F | 0.88" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sauk Rapids
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sauk Rapids's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Saint Cloud
St Cloud VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · 3.5 mi away · St. Cloud
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sauk Rapids
Sauk Rapids's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sauk Rapids (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 5,088 students · in-state tuition $10,858 · 52% graduate · median earnings $59,509 (10 yrs after entry)
St Cloud Technical and Community College
1.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 3,113 students · in-state tuition $6,362 · 36% graduate · median earnings $53,305 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 68 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sauk Rapids
Sauk Rapids has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (68 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
68 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
87 mi awayCities Near Sauk Rapids
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sauk Rapids?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sauk Rapids FAQ
Is Sauk Rapids, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Sauk Rapids's median rent is $964/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $71,841/year. Median home value is $256,100.
Is Sauk Rapids, Minnesota safe?⌄
Sauk Rapids's violent crime rate was 159 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1028 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
Benton County, which includes Sauk Rapids, has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Sauk Rapids is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $964/month and median household income is $71,841/year. The median home value is $256,100. About 35% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Sauk Rapids is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from