Is Sauk Centre, MN a Good Place to Live?
Sauk Centre is a small town of 4,568 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $68,094 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.
Strengths: Sauk Centre stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sauk Centre is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sauk Centre city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.3Sauk Centre's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sauk Centre costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Sauk Centre, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $184,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $771 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $68,094 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeSauk Centre's violent crime rate is 64.9 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sauk Centre is served primarily by SAUK CENTRE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Sauk Centre, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | SAUK CENTRE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 12.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 90.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Sauk Centre sees average highs of 19.5°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 29.1 inches of annual precipitation and 39.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Sauk Centre, MN |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 19.5°F |
| Average High — July | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | Sauk Centre, MN | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,568 | — |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 22.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 87.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 21.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Sauk Centre
Sauk Centre, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: