County · Minnesota

Benton County, Minnesota

Benton County, Minnesota. Benton County had 41,744 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). It holds 20 places (7 cities, villages and boroughs, 12 towns and townships and 1 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 27009.

Benton County is one of the 2 counties of the St. Cloud, MN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

41,744

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 41,379 · ACS 2020-2024: 41,593

Median household income

$74,410

±$3,144 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$271,000

±$5,720 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$982

±$43 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

How many people live in Benton County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 41,379 residents in Benton County. The Census Bureau estimates 41,744 for July 1, 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 41,593 over 408 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +190 (41,545)
2021→2022 −12 (41,533)
2022→2023 +47 (41,580)
2023→2024 +189 (41,769)
2024→2025 −25 (41,744)

Benton County in Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Benton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	41,593	5,739,445	+1,464
Households	16,719±277	2,307,955	no clear change
Average household size	2.43±0.04	2.43	no clear change
Housing units	17,608±39	2,545,030	+515

Benton County's population since 2000

From 34,226 in 2000 to 41,744 in 2025: up 22.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 34,226
2005 (estimate) 37,409
2010 Census 38,451
2015 (estimate) 39,433
2020 Census 41,379
2025 (estimate) 41,744

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Benton County?

Benton County holds 20 places: 7 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 12 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Sauk Rapids with 13,768 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Benton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Sauk Rapids	city	13,862	13,852±26	$71,841	$256,100	7.0%	100%
St. Cloud	city	68,881	70,629±45	$61,374	$225,000	20.2%	10%
Watab Township	township	3,402	3,433±16	$99,018	$318,200	6.6%	100%
Foley	city	2,711	2,675±19	$58,833	$203,800	14.3%	100%
Sartell	city	19,351	19,758±285	$84,131	$297,300	7.4%	11%
Rice	city	1,975	2,085±219	$107,692	$266,600	3.0%	100%
Minden Township	township	1,514	1,428±175	$76,250	$297,300	3.2%	100%
St. George Township	township	1,273	1,162±250	$111,417	$398,400	4.7%	100%
Langola Township	township	1,012	980±142	$114,167	$369,600	5.4%	100%
Maywood Township	township	976	1,041±129	$110,000	$350,600	8.6%	100%
Mayhew Lake Township	township	865	1,031±118	$107,734	$400,000	4.9%	100%
Gilmanton Township	township	849	906±106	$118,750	$399,000	3.7%	100%
Alberta Township	township	829	720±94	$89,583	$329,200	4.6%	100%
Glendorado Township	township	790	846±157	$90,750	$320,000	6.3%	100%
Granite Ledge TownshipGEOID 2700925298	township	756	926±149	$115,938	$302,700	3.1%	100%
Graham Township	township	587	507±110	$103,750	$365,400	2.6%	100%
Sauk Rapids Township	township	521	453±108	$95,250	$338,000	4.6%	100%
GilmanGEOID 2723804	city	226	233±50	$93,750	$233,600	4.0%	100%
RonnebyGEOID 2755366	CDP	71	67±30	$101,875	$431,800	1.5%	100%
Royalton	city	1,281	1,211±236	$55,156	$215,300	26.7%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Benton County?

The median resident of Benton County is 36.2 years old; 25.3% are under 18 and 14.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.0%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 5.5%. 3.5% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Benton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	36.2±0.3	38.8	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.3%±0.1 pts	22.9%	–
65 years and over	14.0%±0.1 pts	17.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.5%	6.4%	+1.1 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	86.0%±0.4 pts	75.9%	−3.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	5.5%±0.9 pts	6.9%	+1.5 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.0%±0.2 pts	5.1%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.7%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.5%±1.0 pts	4.5%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.2 pts	0.5%	–
Born outside the United States	3.5%±1.1 pts	8.7%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	5.5%±1.4 pts	12.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.0%±0.8 pts	5.9%	–
With a disability	12.9%±1.2 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	3.4%±0.6 pts	4.7%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	92.6%±1.2 pts	93.9%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.2%±1.9 pts	39.4%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	7.5%±1.0 pts	13.8%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.0%±0.7 pts	1.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Benton County earn?

Half of Benton County's 16,719 households earn less than $74,410 a year (±$3,144), against $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 it was $71,030 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$74,410±$3,144	$89,062	no clear change
Mean household income	$92,507±$3,192	$118,304	–
Per capita income	$38,579±$1,787	$48,237	no clear change
People below the poverty line	9.9%±1.8 pts	9.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	10.5%±4.0 pts	10.3%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	8.6%±1.6 pts	7.9%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	91.1%±1.1 pts	91.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Benton County?

Owners occupy 66.7% of Benton County's occupied homes and renters 33.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $271,000 by its owner (±$5,720). The median renter pays $982 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$271,000±$5,720	$329,300	+$55,752
Median gross rent	$982±$43	$1,280	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	34.2%±5.9 pts	38.4%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,770±$43	$1,947	–
Owner-occupied homes	66.7%±2.1 pts	72.2%	no clear change
Housing units	17,608±39	2,545,030	+515
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.6 pts	0.6%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.2%±1.1 pts	5.3%	–
Single-family detached homes	66.2%±2.4 pts	66.0%	–
Mobile homes	5.5%±1.1 pts	2.9%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.9%±0.7 pts	1.9%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	11.4%±1.5 pts	15.6%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Benton County building?

Builders took permits for 139 new housing units across Benton County in 2025 (63 single-family), 3.3 per 1,000 residents.

2019 230 units
2020 117 units
2021 92 units
2022 85 units
2023 63 units
2024 82 units
2025 139 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Benton County get to work?

79.0% of Benton County's workers drive alone and 9.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Benton County	Minnesota	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	72.4%±1.2 pts	68.1%	–
Unemployment rate	3.9%±1.2 pts	4.1%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	79.0%±2.1 pts	68.9%	–
Carpooled	6.7%±1.2 pts	7.5%	–
Public transportation	0.4%±0.3 pts	1.8%	–
Walked	3.2%±1.1 pts	2.5%	–
Worked from home	9.5%±1.2 pts	17.6%	+5.7 pts
Mean travel time to work	23.2 min±0.9	22.7 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Benton County's census tracts?

Benton County is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $49,032 (Tract 212.01) to $110,909 (Tract 202.03).

Census tracts of Benton County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 20127009020100	Foley (21%)	5,999	6,209±239	$84,954	$264,600	$1,041	9.5%
Tract 202.0227009020202	Gilman (7%)	2,815	2,872±179	$106,875	$359,800	$1,000	3.3%
Tract 202.0327009020203	Rice (38%)	2,991	3,065±251	$110,909	$278,600	$1,142	3.8%
Tract 202.0527009020205	–	3,402	3,433±16	$99,018	$318,200	$959	6.6%
Tract 202.0627009020206	Sartell (68%)	2,583	2,617±262	$63,625	$235,600	$1,270	8.7%
Tract 20327009020300	St. Cloud (14%)	3,949	4,180±327	$95,741	$336,900	$1,789	4.1%
Tract 211.0227009021102	Sauk Rapids (93%)	4,565	4,701±345	$55,179	$230,700	$925	11.4%
Tract 211.0327009021103	Sauk Rapids	3,512	3,491±401	$62,576	$223,300	$903	8.4%
Tract 211.0427009021104	Sauk Rapids (89%)	4,735	4,416±348	$92,117	$271,600	$1,197	3.5%
Tract 212.0127009021201	St. Cloud (84%)	6,828	6,609±259	$49,032	$224,400	$946	25.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Benton County compare with Minnesota's other counties?

Benton County's rank among Minnesota's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	25th of 87
Growth 2020-2025	42nd of 87
Residents per square mile	14th of 87
Median household income	43rd of 87
Median home value	25th of 87
Median gross rent	24th of 87
Poverty rate	50th of 87
Bachelor's degree or higher	39th of 87
Median age	79th of 87

Every county in Minnesota

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Benton County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.