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City · 7,021 residents · Stearns County, Minnesota

St. Joseph , Minnesota

In St. Joseph, a typical home is worth $237,700 and typical rent is $1,136 a month. Compared with all of Stearns County, the typical home value is 13% lower and typical rent is 6% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $237,700

    13% below the county

    28% below Minnesota

    • St. Joseph
    • Stearns
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $1,136a month

    6% above the county

    11% below Minnesota

    • St. Joseph
    • Stearns
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $74,946a year

    3% below the county

    16% below Minnesota

    • St. Joseph
    • Stearns
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    64%

    4 points below the county

    8 points below Minnesota

    • St. Joseph
    • Stearns
    • Minnesota

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$331,909
3.6% more than 12 months ago

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

St. Joseph is in Stearns County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Stearns County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets St. Joseph apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Becker, the typical rent is $889: 22% less than in St. Joseph ($1,136).

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

The homes here

Housing in St. Joseph

What homes there are in St. Joseph, 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

Detached houses are the majority in St. Joseph (60%), but less so than in Stearns County (69%).

Year built

Homes in St. Joseph are newer: the typical year built is 1992; in Stearns County, 1985.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,669 a month

Stearns County: $1,696 a month

Without a mortgage

$587 a month

Stearns County: $646 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Stearns County: 59%

In St. Joseph, 66% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,669 a month, about the same as in Stearns County.

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 St. Joseph rose 40% since 2015–2019, less than in Stearns County (48%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in St. Joseph rose 46%, more than in Stearns County (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

MeasureSt. JosephStearns CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.1%5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.432.502.432.53
Drive alone 71%75%69%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Walk or bike 12%5%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate11%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in St. Joseph look like those in Stearns County: 2.43 people on average.

In St. Joseph, 12% of workers walk or bike to work; in Stearns County, 5%.

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 St. Joseph?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in St. Joseph, worth $237,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 32% of the typical household income in St. Joseph, which is $74,946 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $84,492 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in St. Joseph. 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 $8,320 (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

$1,971

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$233,394
Total interest
$335,799
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,014 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,749 a month

  • Tight

    $1,749 to $2,248 a month

    Your payment · 32%

  • Hard

    more than $2,248 a month

Compared with the typical household income in St. Joseph ($74,946 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,971
Principal & interest$1,581
Property tax$186
Home insurance$99
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$105

You need at least $8,320 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

St. Joseph and Stearns County

St. Joseph is in Stearns 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).

St. Joseph's own numbers

Typical home value
$237,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,136
Typical yearly household income
$74,946
Households that own their home
64%
Effective property tax rate
0.94%

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

Numbers for all of Stearns County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,233
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+43%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%

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 Stearns County.

Everything about Stearns County

Buying

Buying a home in St. Joseph

A typical home in St. Joseph is worth $237,700: 13% below the county and 28% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in St. Joseph ($74,946 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.

  • St. Joseph 3.2 years
  • Stearns 3.5 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Stearns County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Stearns County rose 76% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +43% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +76% +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

St. Joseph next to Stearns 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
  • St. Joseph $237,700
  • Stearns $273,400
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • St. Joseph $1,136
  • Stearns $1,068
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • St. Joseph $74,946
  • Stearns $77,066
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
St. Joseph next to Stearns County and Minnesota
Measure St. Joseph Stearns County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $237,700 $273,400 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,136 $1,068 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $74,946 $77,066 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 64% 68% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,242 $2,742 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.94% 1% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 61% 50% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Stearns 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 St. Joseph

For a typical $237,700 home in St. Joseph, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, St. Joseph's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,971a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,320
    Cash to close
    $15,451
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $105

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,928a month

    Down payment
    $11,885
    Cash to close
    $19,016
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $113

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,573a month

    Down payment
    $47,540
    Cash to close
    $54,671
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,793a month

    Down payment
    $35,655
    Cash to close
    $42,786
    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 St. Joseph and for Stearns County.

Property tax

Effective rate in St. Joseph

0.94%of the home’s value each year

$2,242 a year for the typical owner in St. Joseph.

  • St. Joseph 0.94%
  • Stearns 1%
  • 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 Stearns County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.2%
784
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.2% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in St. Joseph

Typical rent in St. Joseph is $1,136 a month: 6% above the county. In St. Joseph, 61% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Stearns County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,233 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.71 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Stearns 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 $884 $17.00 $35,360
1 bedroom $961 $18.48 $38,440
2 bedrooms $1,233 $23.71 $49,320
3 bedrooms $1,656 $31.85 $66,240
4 bedrooms $1,961 $37.71 $78,440

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 St. Joseph

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). St. Joseph is in ZIP code 56374.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,340: $107 more than the fair market rent for Stearns County ($1,233).

  • 56374 $1,340$1,800

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for St. Joseph 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in St. Joseph

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Stearns County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in St. Joseph

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for St. Joseph or Stearns County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph

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

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    1601 Hwy 12 E, Willmar · 46 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

  • Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County

    7101 Northland Cir N, Brooklyn Park · 55 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (952) 697-1303

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    716 E Street, Brainerd · 56 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near St. Joseph

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve 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 St. Joseph

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

  • Stearns County Hra Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (320) 685-7771

3 other authorities have an office in Stearns County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Stearns County

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

Everything about Stearns County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Stearns 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 St. Joseph.

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

Questions

Housing questions about St. Joseph

Short answers with the numbers for St. Joseph and all of Stearns 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 St. Joseph?

The typical home value in St. Joseph is $237,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Stearns County it is $273,400.

How much does it cost to rent in St. Joseph?

Typical rent in St. Joseph is $1,136 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Stearns County is $1,233.

What is the FHA loan limit in St. Joseph?

St. Joseph uses the FHA limit for all of Stearns County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in St. Joseph?

The typical homeowner in St. Joseph pays $2,242 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.94% of the home’s value; in Stearns County, the rate is 1%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Stearns County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).