City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

St. James, MN

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

4,740
Residents
$57,031
Median income
$109,600
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

St. James - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, St. James lands in the 31st percentile for household income and the 76th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

31st
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
76th
percentile, safety
📝 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: St. James, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 4,740 residents in St. James, a small town within Minnesota. St. James households earn a median of $57,031 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.6%. Typical homes in St. James are valued around $109,600, and the median resident age is 37.0 years. About 17.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 300% from five years earlier. St. James reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 706.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $973 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 23.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

4,740 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$57,031 /yr

Poverty 14.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does St. James compare to other US cities?

Here's how St. James stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 76% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Minnesota, St. James ranks #102 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 St. James'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.

31stIncome percentile
76thSafety percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income · 76th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

St. James's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

St. James's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 65 Avg. percentile National median
St. James's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How St. James's home value compares nationally

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

$109,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. St. James $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 - St. James, MN St. James, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not St. James, 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 St. James, MN median $57,031/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%
St. James, 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 St. James, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 17.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

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

Population
4,740
Median Income
$57,031
Median Home Value
$109,600
Median Age
37.0
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
17.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
706.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
149.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
556.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,700 residents4,750 residents4,800 residents4,850 residents4,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,805 residents 4,863 residents ▲ +1.2%
St. James's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 4

Permit volume increased 300% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.5%
Carpool
17.3%
Public Transit
3.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
7.0%

Based on 1,839 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 St. James sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
23.9 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Watertown
4,747 people
Chisholm
4,731 people
Oak Park Heights
4,782 people
Windom
4,786 people
Lonsdale
4,789 people
Dilworth
4,664 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to St. James's 4,740 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Milton, OH
4,740 people
Arnold, PA
4,738 people
Bridgeville, PA
4,737 people
South Hill, VA
4,737 people
Whitfield CDP (Manatee County), FL
4,745 people
Sugarcreek, PA
4,745 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to St. James's $57,031 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bedford, IA
$57,031 median income
Klemme, IA
$57,031 median income
Mount Orab, OH
$57,027 median income
New Britain, CT
$57,036 median income
Myrtle Creek, OR
$57,039 median income
Duncan, OK
$57,020 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - St. James, 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 St. James, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.6% 14.1% 11.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 44.7% White 73.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 14.1% Two or more races 11.7% 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 St. James 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
St. James (this city) 4,740 $57,031
Watertown 4,747 $93,008
Chisholm 4,731 $54,815
Oak Park Heights 4,782 $84,639
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about St. James, MN?

What is the population of St. James, MN? +

The population of St. James, MN stands at 4,740 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in St. James, MN? +

Median annual household income in St. James runs $57,031, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in St. James? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for St. James; 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.

Is St. James, MN safe? +

St. James has a total crime rate of 706.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in St. James, MN? +

A typical home in St. James is worth $109,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.