What it's like to live in Sartell
Sartell is a small city in Minnesota with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Sartell deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, snowy winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 57" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Sartell compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Sartell
Based on Sartell's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,550
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $51,000 a year
- 54% of Sartell renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$59,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $29,730
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,275/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,275 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $297,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $297,300 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.0% county unemployment
Unemployment in Stearns County is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Stearns County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 79% below US
70 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 984/100k · Sartell Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 8°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 14% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (72 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Sartell's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,275/mo) equals 18% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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