Hey folks, We have two kids and The median home value here is around $324,100, which seems about average. Household incomes average around $76,196 in St. Cloud. With a population of 61,963, St. Cloud is a smaller city. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, which is pretty low. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Worth the trade-offs? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. Property taxes are high but you get good services. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
5 upvotes
7 Replies
Matthew
as a local I can confirm
34 upvotes
Bella Miller
Moved here from Charlotte about 3 years ago. it's not perfect but it works for me. Still getting used to food scene but Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
28 upvotes
kcsoul2023
Bought a house here in 2024 and it's exactly what I was looking for. Property values have gone up a bit since then.
25 upvotes
Zoey Roberts
preach
21 upvotes
Ruby Thomas
100%
19 upvotes
Cameron
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in The Heights for 9 years. Moved from Minneapolis for family. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is excellent. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 4-bed in a safe area. Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable.
**Employment:**
hospitality is strong here. engineering is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
I genuinely enjoy living here. The outdoor scene is improving - we have national forests within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. The Heights schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Can feel isolated. Bugs and humidity in summer. And public transit can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 6/10. It's not for everyone but it works for us.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
16 upvotes
Julian W.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 15 years ago from Austin and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Older homes are where the value is. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Downtown. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is affordable right now, especially in consulting. If you're in government you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Korean.
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