Stearns County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Stearns County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 159,358. It is the 8th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 30 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Stearns County is 35.0 years. This is 9% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Stearns County is $76,447. This is 13% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 32% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 10% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $256,500. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 67.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 72.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Stearns County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.3%. The Asian population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

28.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.8%.