What are the schools like in St. Joseph, MN?

St. Joseph is served primarily by ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in St. Joseph?

The median household income in St. Joseph, MN is $74,318 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in St. Joseph, MN?

St. Joseph has an average high temperature of 20.8°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 57.4 inches.

St. Joseph, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is St. Joseph, MN affordable or expensive?

St. Joseph's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means St. Joseph is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $231,300 and the median rent is $1,037 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in St. Joseph, MN?

St. Joseph has a violent crime rate of 119.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 447.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is St. Joseph, MN a Good Place to Live?

St. Joseph is a small town of 7,066 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $74,318 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: St. Joseph stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Joseph is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All St. Joseph 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: 89.3

St. Joseph's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in St. Joseph costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	St. Joseph, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$231,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,037	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,318	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 119.4 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

119.4 /100k

Property Crime

447.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

St. Joseph is served primarily by ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	St. Joseph, MN	National Avg
School District	ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

St. Joseph sees average highs of 20.8°F in January and 80.9°F in July, with 31.0 inches of annual precipitation and 57.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	St. Joseph, MN
Average High — January	20.8°F
Average High — July	80.9°F
Annual Precipitation	31.0"
Annual Snowfall	57.4"

Demographics

Metric	St. Joseph, MN	National Avg
Population	7,066	—
Median Age	25.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	9.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waite Park, MN 4 mi St. John's University, MN 4 mi Sartell, MN 6 mi St. Cloud, MN 7 mi Rockville, MN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in St. Joseph

St. Joseph, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

56374

St. Joseph vs Other Cities

St. Joseph, MN vs Waite Park, MN St. Joseph, MN vs St. John's University, MN St. Joseph, MN vs Sartell, MN St. Joseph, MN vs St. Cloud, MN St. Joseph, MN vs Rockville, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Joseph, MN affordable or expensive?

St. Joseph's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes St. Joseph roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $231,300 and median rent is $1,037/month.

What is the crime rate in St. Joseph, MN?

St. Joseph's violent crime rate is 119.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 447.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in St. Joseph?

Public schools in St. Joseph are operated by ST. CLOUD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is St. Joseph, MN a good place to live?

St. Joseph, MN has a population of 7,066, a median household income of $74,318, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph averages 20.8°F in January and 80.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.0 inches with about 57.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 56374.

What is the population of St. Joseph?

The population of St. Joseph, Minnesota is 7,066 with a median age of 25.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in St. Joseph?

Key numbers for living in St. Joseph: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $231,300, median household income $74,318, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Joseph side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.