2023 Best Places to Live in Stearns County

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Current Resident: Very nice area there’s a lot to do several stores no crime friendly neighbors more blue colored people... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 4,694

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 1,506

Current Resident: Sartell is really great! I like how I feel super safe in my neighborhood. There is always kids riding bikes and people walking around. They have a dog park which is really nice. It has a small town feel, but still has everything you need within 15 minutes. Sartell is a good place to raise a family. I do wish there were closer fast food options and more restaurants.... Read 43 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 19,096

Works Here: It's pretty, has a good bar scene (for those of age), and has many local shops that bring so much character to the town!... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade C+

• Population 6,919

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 2,361

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Nearby Resident: Great little small town in central Minnesota. Minnesota nice thrives here! Great small businesses on main street. School has great teachers and staff that help kids with whatever they need.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 2,769

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Nice area really close to college Nice parks lots of stores lots of stuff to do. Nice houses around the area safe area vare friendly people... Read 2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 2,714

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 3 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 3,095

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: The general atmosphere of the St. Cloud area is great. There is a something to do for everyone, whether you're a young college student, a growing family, or you're just looking for a community that has a little of everything to offer.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B+

• grade C+

• Population 2,780

Niche User: Safe place to live, very little crime.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 2,882

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.32 out of 5  159 reviews

Current Resident: Saint Cloud is a great place to live. It offers a small town feel with big town opportunities. St. Cloud has many companies to choose to work for like Target, Walmart and Best Buy; banking companies Wolters-Kluwer and Capital 360; manufacturing companies Polaris and New Flyer and tech firm Marco and the hospitals and clinics of Centracare. There are also many small local firms looking for good employees. St. Cloud offers many entertainment choices. From art crawls, community theatre, orchestras, chamber music, movies, bowling, BMX, car racing, baseball and hockey...there is truly something for everyone. There are many nature areas to explore. The Beaver Island Trail follows the Mississippi through St.Cloud. Lake George in downtown offers fishing, paddle boating, walking trails, a splash pad and playground areas with picnic tables. Stop by on a Wednesday evening in the summer and hear local bands performing at Summertime by George. You'll probably run into a neighbor or two!... Read 159 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B minus

• Population 68,430

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 3.23 out of 5  13 reviews

Niche User: I feel safe in this area. Although there are also areas that I would not feel safe.... Read 13 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 1,497

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.77 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: Peaceful small town, kid people, variety of businesses. Growing school district, decent real estate market.... Read 13 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 4,531

Current Resident: The draw of Saint Augusta is the beautiful setting and the proximity to the city. On the whole, it's primarily a small farming community just on the outskirts of Saint Cloud with small swathes of wilderness, which is where I live. At night the stars are clearly visible and hints of the city are too distant to be noticeable, apart from the light pollution.... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 3,506

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

• grade B

• grade C+

• Population 3,335

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

• grade B

• grade C+

• Population 986

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  12 reviews

Nearby Resident: My family and I recently moved to a town near Cold Spring from Brooklyn Park and it has been great so far. There is so much to do. The city’s water pad and new park is great for our youngest child and Rocori has been a great school so far for our daughter. We came hear because of the fantastic reviews for the Rocori school district. We look forward to a bright future here for our family. Everyone is so friendly. It is a great small town that has a pretty good nightlife and a fun atmosphere.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 4,168

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.33 out of 5  6 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 2,757

• Town in Minnesota

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Population 1,281

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 1,060

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 1,257

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.65 out of 5  31 reviews

Niche User: it is kind of small with some weird people in it. There are a lot of really good resterauts around there. They have a turkey plant there which makes super good turkey. The school is kind of ok.... Read 31 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 3,615

• Neighborhood in St. Cloud, MN

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  Rating 3.57 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: People are really friendly lots of stuff to do many stores good job opportunity here live in South east In St. Cloud The parks are amazing everyone is very friendly around the area they like to keep their homes up-to-date yards look really nice I would say it’s very family friendly school are ok I always hear a lot of hype about seeing for not being a good area but Saint clouds are really nice beautiful sceneries very friendly people lots to do good job opportunity in the schools really aren’t that bad it’s kind of nice getting more for your money to the housing is a lot more affordable... Read 21 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 1,904

Niche User: Waite Park- a town of almost 7000- was a quiet town fifteen years ago, with two elementary school- one public, and one parochial. Today it is a busy place, with a major influx of immigrant families, most of whom come from African countries. These relative newcomer have added a great new flavor to our town. You can go to the local playground and watch Somali boys playing a rigorous game of soccer that parallels the soccer talent you would find in a high school. Walking down the block you can hear people conversing in African, Hispanic, and Asian languages, as well as English. If you wish to enjoy nature you can head to Quarry Park- a former granite quarry made into a huge park that offers everything from swimming to rock climbing to cross country skiing in the winter. We are just the right size town. we are small enough to be a safe place to raise children, yet large enough to have several gas stations and fast food joints, a few churches, and a large movie theater. I have traveled extensively in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ontario, and I have yet to find a place that I prefer to Waite Park, Minnesota.... Read 14 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C+

• Population 8,245

• Town in Minnesota

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  Rating 3.4 out of 5  5 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B+

• Population 1,032