City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Sandstone, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Sandstone - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,538
Residents
$50,288
Median income
$137,500
Median home
$1,101
Median rent (state)

Sandstone - the verdict

Sandstone ranks in the 20th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

20th
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
29th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Sandstone, MN

Sandstone is a small town in Minnesota, home to 2,538 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Sandstone households earn a median of $50,288 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.2%. Home values in Sandstone run a median of $137,500, and the median resident age is 39.6 years. Educational attainment runs 12.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 28.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 41.4°F with 33.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,101 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 62.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

2,538 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$50,288 /yr

Poverty 21.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Sandstone compare to other US cities?

Sandstone measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 20% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 29% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Sandstone's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

20thIncome percentile

20th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Sandstone's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$137,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Sandstone $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Sandstone, MN Sandstone, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Sandstone, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Sandstone, MN median $50,288/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Sandstone, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Sandstone, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 28.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,538
Median Income
$50,288
Median Home Value
$137,500
Median Age
39.6
Poverty Rate
21.2%
Labor force participation
28.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
41.4°F
Annual Precipitation
33.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,000 residents2,200 residents2,400 residents2,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,457 residents 2,543 residents ▲ +3.5%
Sandstone's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 2
2022 0
2023 3
2024 4

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.8%
Carpool
11.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.9%
Work from Home
6.4%

Based on 623 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Sandstone sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,101/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
62.2 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Lake Crystal
2,530 people
Rockville
2,521 people
Le Center
2,514 people
Wabasha
2,569 people
Mayer
2,501 people
Pelican Rapids
2,589 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandstone's 2,538 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pine Canyon, CA
2,538 people
Belmont, MS
2,538 people
Millersburg, PA
2,538 people
New Stanton, PA
2,538 people
Winfield, WV
2,538 people
Tilton, IL
2,537 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Sandstone's $50,288 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bridgeport, IL
$50,284 median income
Fredonia, AL
$50,294 median income
Farmington, MS
$50,294 median income
Roswell, NM
$50,294 median income
Coleman, TX
$50,294 median income
Bryan, OH
$50,295 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Sandstone, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Sandstone, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.5% 10.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.0% White 77.5% Black or African American 10.4% Asian 1.8% American Indian 4.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 5.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Sandstone compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Sandstone (this city) 2,538 $50,288
Lake Crystal 2,530 $77,979
Rockville 2,521 $101,447
Le Center 2,514 $66,864
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NOAA Normals Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Sandstone, MN?

What is the population of Sandstone, MN? +

2,538 people live in Sandstone, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Sandstone, MN? +

Median annual household income in Sandstone runs $50,288, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Sandstone? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Sandstone; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Sandstone, MN? +

Homes in Sandstone carry a median value of $137,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Sandstone? +

Climate normals put Sandstone's yearly average temperature at 41.4°F, 33.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.