The St. Cloud metro is home to 200,816 people (up 2.1% over five years), with a median household income of $75,670. Typical rent of $1,224/month works out to 19.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of St. Cloud's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 29.0% |
| Manufacturing | 13.2% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Construction | 7.6% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 19.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the St. Cloud market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,224/month suggests a household income around $49,000/year. The metro's median household income is $75,670.
By workforce share: Education & health care (29.0%), Manufacturing (13.2%), Retail trade (11.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).