County profile · Minnesota
Stearns County, MN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Stearns County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 164,110
- +3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 61,403
- Median household income
- $77,066
- +22.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $273,400
- Jobs located here
- 83,579
- Highest market score
- 83
- Primary care and pediatrics, #56 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Stearns County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Stearns County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 164,110 people live in Stearns County, in 61,403 households. Population estimates put the population change in Stearns County from 2020 to 2025 at +3.6%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Stearns County is $77,066 a year, 5% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 22.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Stearns County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (71).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Stearns County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (83), physical therapy clinics (80) and tire shops (79). Stearns County ranks #56 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Stearns County is part of the St. Cloud metro area. For its number of households, Stearns County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for electricians (96% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for primary care and pediatric clinics (46% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Stearns County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Stearns County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 83 | #56 of 1,656 | 24 | 3.9 | $3.6M | 204 | 45 |
| Physical therapy | 80 | #58 of 1,422 | 21 | 3.4 | $4.1M | 173 | 17 |
| Tire shops | 79 | #117 of 1,530 | 22 | 3.6 | $3.2M | 127 | 7 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 75 | #124 of 1,461 | 19 | 3.1 | $2.7M | 108 | 8 |
| Car washes and detailing | 69 | #268 of 1,451 | 30 | 4.9 | $2.3M | 92 | 7 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 69 | #291 of 1,889 | 40 | 6.5 | $6M | 145 | 34 |
| Barbershops | 68 | #274 of 1,356 | 18 | 2.9 | $3.4M | 180 | 5 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 66 | #133 of 777 | 9 | 1.5 | $6.2M | 152 | 18 |
| Convenience stores | 65 | #605 of 2,261 | 71 | 11.6 | $5.2M | 66 | 7 |
| Roofing and gutters | 64 | #280 of 1,177 | 19 | 3.1 | $8.8M | 104 | 9 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 63 | #127 of 479 | 5 | 0.8 | $14M | 102 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #652 of 2,358 | 61 | 9.9 | $2.9M | 121 | 81 |
| Pet stores | 60 | #326 of 974 | 15 | 2.4 | $3.5M | 77 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 60 | #576 of 1,886 | 66 | 10.7 | $1.3M | 134 | 55 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 60 | #748 of 2,405 | 304 | 49.5 | $789K | 119 | 112 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #699 of 2,200 | 72 | 11.7 | $725K | 83 | 32 |
| House cleaning | 58 | #262 of 847 | 9 | 1.5 | $8.4M | 132 | 34 |
| Auto repair shops | 58 | #802 of 2,378 | 131 | 21.3 | $533K | 120 | 97 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 56 | #638 of 1,707 | 34 | 5.5 | $4.9M | 104 | 62 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 56 | #911 of 2,222 | 81 | 13.2 | $3M | 97 | 129 |
| Grocery stores | 55 | #836 of 2,070 | 39 | 6.4 | $9.5M | 103 | 35 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #973 of 2,405 | 607 | 98.9 | $395K | 107 | 279 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 54 | #554 of 1,334 | 29 | 4.7 | $1.9M | 95 | 18 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 54 | #1,045 of 2,402 | 150 | 24.4 | $2.5M | 73 | 42 |
| Spas and skin care | 53 | #783 of 1,769 | 66 | 10.7 | $925K | 106 | 14 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #1,085 of 2,401 | 252 | 41.0 | $277K | 103 | 124 |
| Laundromats | 51 | #373 of 785 | 12 | 2.0 | $10.1M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 51 | #643 of 1,327 | 24 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 94 | 26 |
| Nail salons | 51 | #661 of 1,328 | 32 | 5.2 | $1.9M | 114 | 25 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #1,015 of 2,063 | 76 | 12.4 | $3.2M | 85 | 34 |
| Pizza | 50 | #1,033 of 2,090 | 63 | 10.3 | $3.8M | 75 | 129 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 50 | #1,201 of 2,394 | 551 | 89.7 | $158K | 104 | 176 |
| Veterinarians | 49 | #778 of 1,485 | 26 | 4.2 | $2M | 74 | 21 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 47 | #1,246 of 2,210 | 137 | 22.3 | $887K | 101 | 63 |
| Hair salons | 47 | #1,335 of 2,339 | 155 | 25.2 | $394K | 92 | 43 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #1,004 of 1,771 | 49 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 92 | 106 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #1,238 of 2,057 | 83 | 13.5 | $2M | 83 | 121 |
| Funeral homes | 45 | #842 of 1,472 | 20 | 3.3 | $426K | 63 | 13 |
| Gyms | 45 | #1,115 of 1,792 | 69 | 11.2 | $802K | 62 | 18 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 45 | #1,223 of 2,087 | 102 | 16.6 | $1.2M | 94 | 63 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,321 of 2,088 | 107 | 17.4 | $517K | 78 | 36 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #1,473 of 2,385 | 277 | 45.1 | $220K | 104 | 87 |
| Property management | 44 | #550 of 910 | 16 | 2.6 | Index only | 97 | 32 |
| Child care and preschools | 43 | #1,006 of 1,611 | 32 | 5.2 | $794K | 79 | 49 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 42 | #941 of 1,493 | 36 | 5.9 | $2.1M | 72 | 69 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 41 | #900 of 1,302 | 39 | 6.4 | $2.2M | 71 | 17 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 36 | #693 of 887 | 26 | 4.2 | Index only | 85 | 13 |
| Chiropractors | 36 | #1,130 of 1,490 | 63 | 10.3 | $1.4M | 58 | 42 |
| Electricians | 34 | #933 of 1,160 | 30 | 4.9 | $5.6M | 46 | 50 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 34 | #1,910 of 2,176 | 201 | 32.7 | Index only | 79 | 67 |
| Real estate | 33 | #1,985 of 2,229 | 249 | 40.6 | Index only | 80 | 127 |
| Home inspectors | 30 | #363 of 415 | 6 | 1.0 | Index only | 55 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 22 | #2,045 of 2,272 | 138 | 22.5 | $771K | 61 | 113 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.7 | $19M | 185 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.5 | $40.5M | 258 | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $87.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
Household spending in Stearns County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $69.8M | $1,136 | 119 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $175.9M | $2,864 | 110 |
| Food away from home | $239.7M | $3,904 | 96 |
| Groceries | $371.9M | $6,056 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $61.1M | $995 | 99 |
| Child care and other personal services | $25.4M | $414 | 71 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $55.4M | $902 | 92 |
| Medical and dental services | $87.1M | $1,419 | 110 |
| Pets | $52.2M | $850 | 93 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $121.5M | $1,978 | 96 |
| Vehicle insurance | $106.3M | $1,732 | 89 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $167.5M | $2,727 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $75.8M | $1,235 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $864.8M | $14,085 | 85 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Stearns County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 164,110+3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 61,403
- Median age
- 37.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 1,343 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 120
- Median household income
- $77,066+22.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $98,367
- Median home value
- $273,400
- Jobs located here
- 83,579
- Daytime population
- 169,051Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Stearns County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Stearns County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Minnesota 8
- Benton County, MN41,593 people
- Morrison County, MN34,249 people
- Meeker County, MN23,468 people
- Sherburne County, MN100,560 people
- Wright County, MN148,269 people
- Mille Lacs County, MN27,125 people
- Kandiyohi County, MN44,079 people
- Todd County, MN25,575 people
Questions
How fast is Stearns County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Stearns County at 164,110 people in 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 61,403 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 22.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Stearns County, MN spend?
Households in Stearns County spend about $864.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $371.9M on groceries and $239.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Stearns County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 119, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (71).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Stearns County, MN?
Of the business types scored in Stearns County, primary care and pediatric clinics (83), physical therapy clinics (80) and tire shops (79) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #56 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Stearns County, MN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Stearns County is $77,066, 5% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $273,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for electricians (96% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for primary care and pediatric clinics (46% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 53 of the 56 business types have a score in Stearns County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Stearns County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Stearns County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Stearns County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.