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City · 20,611 residents · Dakota County, Minnesota

South St. Paul , Minnesota

In South St. Paul, a typical home is worth $281,600 and typical rent is $1,199 a month. Compared with all of Dakota County, the typical home value is 26% lower, typical rent is 23% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 5 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $281,600

    26% below the county

    14% below Minnesota

    • South St. Paul
    • Dakota
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $1,199a month

    23% below the county

    6% below Minnesota

    • South St. Paul
    • Dakota
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $87,994a year

    17% below the county

    About the same as Minnesota

    • South St. Paul
    • Dakota
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    70%

    5 points below the county

    3 points below Minnesota

    • South St. Paul
    • Dakota
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$298,286
2.7% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,504 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

South St. Paul is in Dakota County. The FHA loan limit ($552,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Dakota County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets South St. Paul apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical home in South St. Paul is worth $281,600, 26% less than in Dakota County as a whole ($381,000).

  2. The typical rent in South St. Paul is $1,199 a month, 23% less than in Dakota County as a whole ($1,548).

  3. The typical household income in South St. Paul is $87,994, 17% less than in Dakota County as a whole ($106,318).

  4. 70% of households in South St. Paul own their home, against 75% in Dakota County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in South St. Paul

What homes there are in South St. Paul, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In South St. Paul, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Dakota County, 6.

Year built

In South St. Paul, half of the homes were built before 1958; in Dakota County, before 1988.

Homes in South St. Paul are smaller: 55% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Dakota County, 65%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 97% of owner-occupied homes in South St. Paul are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Dakota County ($552,000).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,815 a month

Dakota County: $2,129 a month

Without a mortgage

$688 a month

Dakota County: $758 a month

Owners with a mortgage

75%

Dakota County: 70%

In South St. Paul, 75% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,815 a month, against $2,129 in Dakota County. Without one it drops to $688.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in South St. Paul rose 47% since 2015–2019, more than in Dakota County (43%).

The typical rent in South St. Paul rose 28% over the same time; in Dakota County, it rose 32%.

The typical household income in South St. Paul rose 39% over that time; home values changed +47% and rent +28%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureSouth St. PaulDakota CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.8%5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.4%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.432.542.432.53
Drive alone 69%68%69%69%
Carpool 13%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 15%21%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in South St. Paul has 2.43 people on average, about the same as in Dakota County (2.54).

In South St. Paul, 13% of workers share a car to get to work; in Dakota County, 7%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in South St. Paul?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in South St. Paul, worth $281,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 33% of the typical household income in South St. Paul, which is $87,994 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $102,610 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Dakota County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in South St. Paul. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,856 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,394

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$276,500
Total interest
$397,818
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,756 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,053 a month

  • Tight

    $2,053 to $2,640 a month

    Your payment · 33%

  • Hard

    more than $2,640 a month

Compared with the typical household income in South St. Paul ($87,994 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,394
Principal & interest$1,873
Property tax$279
Home insurance$117
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$125

You need at least $9,856 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

South St. Paul and Dakota County

South St. Paul is in Dakota County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

South St. Paul's own numbers

Typical home value
$281,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,199
Typical yearly household income
$87,994
Households that own their home
70%
Effective property tax rate
1.19%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Dakota County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$552,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,734
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+32%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Dakota County.

Everything about Dakota County

Buying

Buying a home in South St. Paul

A typical home in South St. Paul is worth $281,600: 26% below the county and 14% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in South St. Paul ($87,994 a year), a typical home costs 3.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • South St. Paul 3.2 years
  • Dakota 3.6 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Dakota County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Dakota County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Dakota County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.5% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +32% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

South St. Paul next to Dakota County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • South St. Paul $281,600
  • Dakota $381,000
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • South St. Paul $1,199
  • Dakota $1,548
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • South St. Paul $87,994
  • Dakota $106,318
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
South St. Paul next to Dakota County and Minnesota
Measure South St. Paul Dakota County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $281,600 $381,000 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,199 $1,548 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $87,994 $106,318 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 70% 75% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,347 $3,749 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.19% 0.98% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 48% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Dakota County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in South St. Paul

For a typical $281,600 home in South St. Paul, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, South St. Paul's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,394a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,856
    Cash to close
    $18,304
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $125

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,343a month

    Down payment
    $14,080
    Cash to close
    $22,528
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $134

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,923a month

    Down payment
    $56,320
    Cash to close
    $64,768
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,183a month

    Down payment
    $42,240
    Cash to close
    $50,688
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for South St. Paul and for Dakota County.

Property tax

Effective rate in South St. Paul

1.19%of the home’s value each year

$3,347 a year for the typical owner in South St. Paul.

  • South St. Paul 1.19%
  • Dakota 0.98%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Dakota County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Dakota County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.3%
488
Of those, with NFIP insurance
6.6%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.3% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 6.6% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in South St. Paul

Typical rent in South St. Paul is $1,199 a month: 23% below the county. In South St. Paul, 48% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Dakota County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,734 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $33.35 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Dakota County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,265 $24.33 $50,600
1 bedroom $1,427 $27.44 $57,080
2 bedrooms $1,734 $33.35 $69,360
3 bedrooms $2,264 $43.54 $90,560
4 bedrooms $2,538 $48.81 $101,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in South St. Paul

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). South St. Paul is in ZIP code 55075.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,540: $194 less than the fair market rent for Dakota County ($1,734).

  • 55075 $1,540$2,040

A ZIP code counts for South St. Paul when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in South St. Paul

HUD lists 2 buildings with rents for lower incomes in South St. Paul. These are the largest.

  • John Carroll 300 Grand Ave W, South St Paul 55075 166 homes, 165 low-income · Run by Hra of the City of South ST Paul, Minnesota · Average payment: $399 a month · Average wait: 5 months (651) 554-3270
  • Nan Mckay 200 Marie Ave, South St Paul 55075 132 low-income homes · Run by Hra of the City of South ST Paul, Minnesota · Average payment: $405 a month · Average wait: 4 months (651) 554-3270

See all 74 buildings in Dakota County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in South St. Paul

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Dakota County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in South St. Paul

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for South St. Paul or Dakota County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in South St. Paul the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near South St. Paul

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of South St. Paul, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighborhood Development Alliance

    481 Wabasha St S, Saint Paul · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (651) 292-0131

  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, Inc.

    445 Minnesota St Ste 1800, Saint Paul · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Rental counseling
    (651) 222-5863

  • Washington County Community Development Agency

    7645 Currell Blvd, Woodbury · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (651) 202-2822

Every agency in Dakota County All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near South St. Paul

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of South St. Paul

HUD’s record names them for South St. Paul or Dakota County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Hra of the City of South ST Paul, Minnesota Public housing (651) 554-3270
  • Dakota County Cda Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (651) 675-4400

All housing agencies in Minnesota Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Dakota County

These cities are also in Dakota County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Dakota County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

The cities closest to South St. Paul, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Dakota County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in South St. Paul.

All guides
Two parents walk hand in hand with their little daughter.

Questions

Housing questions about South St. Paul

Short answers with the numbers for South St. Paul and all of Dakota County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in South St. Paul?

The typical home value in South St. Paul is $281,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Dakota County it is $381,000.

How much does it cost to rent in South St. Paul?

Typical rent in South St. Paul is $1,199 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Dakota County is $1,734.

What is the FHA loan limit in South St. Paul?

South St. Paul uses the FHA limit for all of Dakota County (2026): $552,000 for a one-unit home and $1,061,550 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in South St. Paul?

The typical homeowner in South St. Paul pays $3,347 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.19% of the home’s value; in Dakota County, the rate is 0.98%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in South St. Paul?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Dakota County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).