HousingPermits

Metro area in Minnesota · part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI combined area

St. Cloud, MN

The St. Cloud metro area authorized 787 new housing units in 2025. Buildings with five or more units accounted for 32% of the units authorized in 2021–2025, the lowest share among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota. Permits rose 20% between 2024 and 2025, the largest increase among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota.

05001,0001,5002,0002004: 1,706 units (1,526 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,714 units (1,541 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 143 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,267 units (1,100 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 147 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 780 units (700 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 63 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 629 units (376 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 214 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 537 units (288 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 314 units (314 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 368 units (246 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 100 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 572 units (316 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 256 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 597 units (376 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 217 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 577 units (387 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 858 units (376 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 470 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,107 units (475 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 622 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 819 units (514 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 770 units (532 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 718 units (504 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 207 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 615 units (529 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 42 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 624 units (525 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 696 units (431 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 265 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 681 units (427 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 654 units (431 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 210 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 787 units (434 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 329 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252005 high · 1,7142010 low · 31406001,2001,8002004: 1,706 units (1,526 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 136 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 1,714 units (1,541 single-family, 30 in 2–4 unit, 143 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 1,267 units (1,100 single-family, 20 in 2–4 unit, 147 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 780 units (700 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 63 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 629 units (376 single-family, 39 in 2–4 unit, 214 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 537 units (288 single-family, 9 in 2–4 unit, 240 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 314 units (314 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 368 units (246 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 100 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 572 units (316 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 256 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 597 units (376 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 217 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 577 units (387 single-family, 16 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 858 units (376 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 470 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 1,107 units (475 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 622 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 819 units (514 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 301 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 770 units (532 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 718 units (504 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 207 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 615 units (529 single-family, 44 in 2–4 unit, 42 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 624 units (525 single-family, 50 in 2–4 unit, 49 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 696 units (431 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 265 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 681 units (427 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 244 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 654 units (431 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 210 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 787 units (434 single-family, 24 in 2–4 unit, 329 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252005 high · 1,714

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 56% below the 2004–2006 average, the weakest recovery by this measure among the 5 metro areas based in Minnesota.

Boom, bust and since

St. Cloud authorized the most units in 2005 (1,714); 2025 reached 46% of that. Its peak year is shared by 105 other metro areas, among them Springfield, IL, St. George, Dover. Annual permits fell from 1,714 during the mid-2000s boom to 314 in 2010, a drop of 82%. The nearest bust profile in the West North Central states was Kansas City's (82%).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 31 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was St. Cloud, with 1,207 units or 35% of the total, followed by Stearns County Part (unincorporated) with 480. Among the three largest, St. Cloud put 54% of its units in five-plus buildings, Stearns County Part (unincorporated) 0%.

  • St. Cloud35% (1,207 units)
  • Stearns County Part (unincorporated)14% (480 units)
  • Benton County (unincorporated)6.2% (215 units)
  • Sartell5.6% (193 units)
  • Sauk Rapids4.9% (168 units)
  • St. Joseph4.7% (162 units)
  • Waite Park4.4% (150 units)
  • Melrose3.3% (113 units)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

The wider Minneapolis-St. Paul region

The Census Bureau groups St. Cloud with one neighboring metro area in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI combined area. Metro areas in it authorized 20,083 units a year in 2021–2025 (micropolitan parts not counted); St. Cloud accounted for 3.4%. The other, with its yearly average: Minneapolis (19,395).

Relative to population

With 205,854 residents in July 2025, St. Cloud authorized 3.4 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Cedar Rapids (3.4) and Dothan (3.4).

Where in the metro

Stearns County accounted for 87% of the metro area's units in 2021–2025, Benton County for 13%.

  • Stearns County87% (648 in 2025)
  • Benton County13% (139 in 2025)

Houses or apartments

The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Crestview (32% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 9.1%. Units in five-plus buildings peaked in 2016 (622), single-family houses in 2005 (1,541).

2021–202565.3%65%2.8%31.9%32%2004–200688.9%89%2.0%9.1%9%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202565.3%65%2.8%31.9%32%2004–200688.9%89%2.0%9.1%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Elkhart-Goshen, IN7772.329%
Warner Robins, GA1,3578.825%
Auburn-Opelika, AL1,5818.816%
Springfield, IL2351.213%
St. Cloud, MN7873.432%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put St. Cloud beside Springfield, IL

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: Minnesota. Counting rules.