Sauk Rapids in Benton County, MN is a thriving central Minnesota City along the upper Mississippi River — located an hour north of the Twin Cities and just three miles from St. Cloud. Compared to the rest of the country, Sauk Rapid’s cost of living is 11.3% lower than the U.S. average. Families and retirees can find the perfect home for less when compared to nearby major metros, while enjoying room to spread out and the great outdoors. Many of Sauk Rapids’ residents are college-educated and work in manufacturing, education, and healthcare. Learn more about Sauk Rapids below.
As of 2026 the population of Sauk Rapids is 14,021. The population is expected to grow to 14,126 by 2031 - a growth rate of 0.15%.
The median age of Sauk Rapids residents is 38.
The diversity index of Sauk Rapids is 31.3, meaning that there is a 31% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Sauk Rapids is $89,915 and projected to be $99,296 in 2031. Per capita income is $37,598, projected to be $41,947 in 2031. 2.75% of households – 386 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $684,204 and the average disposable income is $66,963.
There are 5,982 housing units in Sauk Rapids; 3,481 are owner-occupied, 2,334 are rented, and 167 are vacant. The average home value is $301,424, with 653 homes built in 2010 or later, and 586 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 387 businesses in Sauk Rapids, employing 4,837 workers and pulling from a labor force of 7,511 age 16 and above. 4,620 workers commute into Sauk Rapids from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
2,885 residents both live and work in/around Sauk Rapids. The average travel time is 19.4 minutes. 6.55% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 2.6% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 6,094 drive alone, 412 carpool, and 48 take public transportation. 213 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 744 residents work from home.
2,932 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 1,598 have associates degrees, 1,701 have bachelor’s degrees, and 984 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
