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 2025 the population of Sauk Rapids is 14,149. The population is expected to grow to 14,289 by 2030 - a growth rate of 0.20%.
The median age of Sauk Rapids residents is 38.
The diversity index of Sauk Rapids is 31.4, 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 $86,441 and projected to be $93,583 in 2030. Per capita income is $35,677, projected to be $38,988 in 2030. 2.18% of households – 308 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $540,712 and the average disposable income is $65,583.
There are 6,028 housing units in Sauk Rapids; 3,538 are owner-occupied, 2,292 are rented, and 198 are vacant. The average home value is $297,125, with 619 homes built in 2010 or later, and 515 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 380 businesses in Sauk Rapids, employing 4,830 workers and pulling from a labor force of 7,483 age 16 and above. 4,969 workers commute into Sauk Rapids from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
2,514 residents both live and work in/around Sauk Rapids. The average travel time is 20.2 minutes. 7.68% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 6.32% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 6,100 drive alone, 518 carpool, and 58 take public transportation. 220 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 555 residents work from home.
2,852 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 1,789 have associates degrees, 1,626 have bachelor’s degrees, and 979 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2025-08-18
