CountyScore

St. Louis County

Minnesota · MN

#79 in Minnesota
65.7
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Louis County, Minnesota

Above National Average, Room to Grow

St. Louis County scores 65.7, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and placing it in the top 31st percentile nationally. While above average, it underperforms relative to many Minnesota peers.

Below Minnesota Performance Level

At 65.7, St. Louis County trails Minnesota's state average of 70.9, ranking in the lower-middle tier among the state's 87 counties. The gap indicates challenges relative to typical Minnesota counties.

Health and Affordability Anchor

St. Louis County's Health Score of 77.0 and Cost Score of 75.1 provide stability, with median home values of $208,500 and rent at $970/month offering reasonable affordability. The Tax Score of 73.4 supports household finances.

Income and Risk Create Headwinds

The Income Score of 28.7 reflects a median household income of $69,455, among the lowest in this group and significantly below state averages. The Risk Score of 8.4 is alarmingly low, indicating substantial economic and environmental vulnerability.

For Resilient, Frugal Northern Families

St. Louis County suits resilient families and retirees committed to affordable northern Minnesota living who can weather economic uncertainty with modest incomes. It's best for those valuing healthcare and tight-knit communities over earnings potential.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax73.4Cost75.1SafetyComing SoonHealth77SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.7Risk8.4WaterComing Soon
🏛73.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠75.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤77
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡8.4
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare St. Louis County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Clinch County
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Median income: $55,549
Jo Daviess County
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65.7
Median income: $74,954
Porter County
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65.7
Median income: $85,828
Osage County
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65.7
Median income: $70,216
Kenton County
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65.7
Median income: $79,421

Deep Dives

St. Louis County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in St. Louis County

via TaxByCounty

St. Louis County taxes above national median

St. Louis County's effective property tax rate of 1.027% exceeds the national median, though its median property tax of $2,142 falls short of the national median of $2,690. This reflects the county's median home value of $208,500—26% below the U.S. average.

St. Louis slightly above Minnesota average

St. Louis County's 1.027% effective rate surpasses Minnesota's 0.968% state average, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's 87 counties. Median taxes of $2,142 run just 1% below the state average of $2,168.

St. Louis taxes moderate for region

St. Louis County's 1.027% rate sits between Sherburne County's 0.995% and Renville County's 1.016%, making it typical for the broader Minnesota region. As Minnesota's largest county by area, St. Louis blends rural and urban tax burdens.

St. Louis median home tax: $2,142 yearly

The median home in St. Louis County is valued at $208,500; at the county's 1.027% effective rate, that homeowner pays approximately $2,142 in annual property taxes. Mortgage holders see this rise to $2,317 due to escrow.

St. Louis homeowners should verify assessments

Even in a moderately taxed county like St. Louis, many properties are assessed above fair market value. File a formal appeal with your county assessor if your property tax seems misaligned with recent neighborhood sales.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Louis County

via CostByCounty

St. Louis County Faces Affordability Pressure

St. Louis County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% is the highest among these eight counties and exceeds Minnesota's 14.5% average by 2.3 percentage points, signaling genuine affordability strain. Median rent of $970 per month modestly exceeds the state's $915 average, while the $69,455 median household income trails the $74,755 national median, squeezing renters from both directions.

St. Louis County Struggles Statewide

St. Louis County ranks among Minnesota's least affordable counties, with the highest rent-to-income ratio in this comparison and below-average household incomes. This positioning reflects an economy dependent on legacy industries, where wage stagnation has not kept pace with housing costs.

St. Louis County's Regional Disadvantage

St. Louis County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds every regional peer—Rock County (12.7%), Renville (13.2%), Sherburne (13.4%), and Sibley (13.5%)—marking it as the outlier in this northern Minnesota cluster. Its $970 median rent and lower median income combine to create the most constrained affordability in the group.

Housing Costs Bite Deeper

Renters allocate $970 monthly while homeowners spend $1,034, consuming 16.8% and 17.9% of the $69,455 median household income respectively. St. Louis County households dedicate a larger share of earnings to housing than any peer, leaving less for other essentials and limiting financial flexibility.

St. Louis County Needs Income Boost

St. Louis County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio signals affordability stress; if you're considering moving here, ensure your income matches or exceeds the $69,455 median to avoid financial strain. Comparing to Rock County (12.7% ratio) or Renville (13.2%), you'll see why northern Minnesota renters face tighter housing markets and should plan accordingly.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Louis County

via IncomeByCounty

St. Louis trails national income

St. Louis County's median household income of $69,455 falls 7.1% below the national median of $74,755. The county reflects the economic realities of a region transitioning from mining and industrial heritage.

Among Minnesota's lower-earning counties

At $69,455, St. Louis County ranks below Minnesota's state average of $75,757, placing it among the lower-earning counties statewide. The per capita income of $39,778 slightly exceeds the state average of $39,335, showing uneven income distribution.

Lower earners in the north

St. Louis County's $69,455 ranks near the bottom of the eight-county comparison, exceeding only Renville ($69,086). The county faces greater economic challenges than more prosperous Minnesota regions.

Housing affordability challenged

St. Louis County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% is the highest among these counties, exceeding the 15% threshold and straining household budgets. The median home value of $208,500 represents a significant burden relative to local earning power.

Prioritize financial resilience

St. Louis County's modest $69,455 income and elevated housing costs (16.8%) require disciplined financial planning and budgeting. Building an emergency fund and even minimal retirement contributions should be priority one before pursuing other wealth-building strategies.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Louis County

via HealthByCounty

St. Louis County faces longevity challenges

At 76.8 years, St. Louis County's life expectancy falls 3.5 years below the U.S. average of 80.3 years—the lowest among comparison counties and a substantial gap. The 14.7% poor or fair health rate sits below the national average of 15%, yet the county's dramatically lower life expectancy suggests acute health challenges beyond general health perception. These metrics indicate St. Louis faces serious population health crises.

Lowest life expectancy among Minnesota counties

St. Louis County's 76.8-year life expectancy ranks lowest in the state comparison group and trails Minnesota's 78.7-year average by 1.9 years. The 5.8% uninsured rate approximates the state average, indicating coverage isn't the primary barrier—structural health challenges run deeper. This gap suggests St. Louis requires targeted public health intervention.

St. Louis lags peers despite strong provider density

St. Louis's 76.8-year life expectancy significantly trails all comparison counties—even Roseau (77.0 years) exceeds it, suggesting distinct underlying health crises. Paradoxically, St. Louis leads all counties in primary care provider density at 124 per 100,000 residents and in mental health providers at 373 per 100K—the highest by far. This suggests provider abundance alone cannot overcome community health determinants.

Abundant providers, but acute health challenges persist

St. Louis County operates 124 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—significantly more than any comparison county—yet life expectancy remains the lowest statewide. Mental health services at 373 providers per 100K represent extraordinary capacity, yet behavioral health challenges persist. These facts suggest social determinants, substance use, or other structural factors override provider availability.

Access St. Louis County's extensive healthcare network

St. Louis County's providers—despite health challenges—represent vital resources for managing conditions and extending life expectancy. Ensure active health insurance to access this extensive network at Minnesota's highest provider density. Visit MNsure.org to verify coverage and explore options that connect you to St. Louis's abundant healthcare resources.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Louis County

via RiskByCounty

St. Louis County faces highest risk

St. Louis County's composite risk score of 91.57 ranks among the highest in the nation, earning a Relatively Moderate rating that reflects serious multi-hazard exposure. Residents face substantially greater disaster risk than the typical American.

Minnesota's riskiest county

At 91.57, St. Louis County's risk score dramatically exceeds Minnesota's state average of 42.38, making it the state's most hazard-prone county by a significant margin. This exceptional ranking reflects elevated exposure across floods, wildfires, and tornadoes.

Risk leader in northeastern Minnesota

St. Louis County (91.57) vastly exceeds all neighboring counties in disaster risk, including Lake and Cook counties to the north and east. Its combination of flooding, wildfire, and tornado threats is unmatched in the region.

Flooding and wildfire dominate

St. Louis County faces an exceptional flood risk of 91.76—the highest in Minnesota—compounded by wildfire danger at 81.74 and tornado risk at 64.73. This triple threat makes the county uniquely vulnerable to cascading natural disasters.

Comprehensive insurance is essential

St. Louis County residents must prioritize maximum coverage: NFIP flood insurance immediately, windstorm riders for tornadoes, and full wildfire provisions in homeowners policies. Given the county's exceptional risk, professional home risk assessment and mitigation planning are strongly recommended.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.