The Town FilesSauk Rapids, Minnesota
City in Benton County · population 13,862 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,100
- Household income
- $71,841
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.3
Sauk Rapids is a city of 13,862 people in Benton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $256,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 93% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Minnesota towns.
How Sauk Rapids ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Sauk Rapids is worth $256,100, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $71,841, which is more affordable than 40% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sauk Rapids | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $964 | $991 |
| Median household income | $71,841 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sauk Rapids
| People | Sauk Rapids | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 90.2% |
Weather in Sauk Rapids
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F. About 28.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sauk Rapids since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 3, 1980 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 17,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Sauk Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Sauk Rapids
19 public schools with 7,530 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAUK RAPIDS-RICE SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,317 | 17.6 |
| APOLLO SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,230 | 16.2 |
| SAUK RAPIDS-RICE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,067 | 16.9 |
| MISSISSIPPI HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 817 | 14.9 |
| Pleasantview Elementary | PK-5 | 722 | 12.9 |
| NORTH JUNIOR HIGH | 6-8 | 701 | 14.9 |
| MADISON ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 671 | 12.4 |
| LINCOLN ELEMENTARY | 3-5 | 295 | 11.3 |
| Saint Cloud Math and Science Academ (charter) | K-5 | 240 | 8.9 |
| Success Academy Saint Cloud (charter) | K-7 | 185 | 20.6 |
| St. Cloud Math & Science Middle (charter) | 6-8 | 85 | 21.3 |
| Hillside Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 68 | — |
Towns near Sauk Rapids
- Sartell, MN3.3 mi · 19,351 people · home $297,300
- St. Cloud, MN4.8 mi · 68,881 people · home $225,000
- Haven, MN6.5 mi · 2,610 people · home $346,800
- Waite Park, MN6.7 mi · 8,341 people · home $219,400
- Watab, MN6.7 mi · 3,402 people · home $318,200
- St. Joseph, MN7.5 mi · 7,029 people · home $237,700
- St. Augusta, MN10.2 mi · 3,497 people · home $388,400
- Palmer, MN11.2 mi · 2,517 people · home $382,700
Sauk Rapids questions
Is Sauk Rapids, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sauk Rapids scores better for retirees than 5% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 2%. 12.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Sauk Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Sauk Rapids is valued at $256,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,841, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Sauk Rapids?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 2.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Sauk Rapids get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sauk Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 3, 1980. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)