What it's like to live in St. Cloud
St. Cloud is a smaller city in Florida with crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020.
Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next. The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Long commutes
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
How St. Cloud compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to St. Cloud
Based on St. Cloud's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,366
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $67,320 a year
- 59% of St. Cloud renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$71,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,620
- Homes cost 4.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 19% above US
$1,683/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,683 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $356,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $356,200 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 57% below US
141 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 664/100k · St. Cloud Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 38% above US
36 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 35.9 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 50°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 12% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (50 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
St. Cloud's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and long average commutes. A year of median rent ($1,683/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near St. Cloud
All Florida guides →Moving to Buenaventura Lakes →
8 mi away · pop. 32,682
Rent $1,806/mo · Income $68,887
Compare with St. Cloud →Moving to Meadow Woods →
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Rent $1,906/mo · Income $82,744
Compare with St. Cloud →Moving to Southchase →
12 mi away · pop. 13,981
Rent $2,016/mo · Income $92,431
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