Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Mankato vs St. Cloud

94 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+8.6 pts in Mankato) and average commute (6 min in Mankato).

×
Mankato, MNHometown of 68 notable peopleMinnesota · 45,473 people
×
St. Cloud, MNA college townMinnesota · 70,629 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Mankato places higher on 16 of 23 MN lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Mankato

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Mankato$1,850/mo
Typical home $305K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $1,132/mo · Housing →
St. Cloud$1,570/mo
Typical home $258K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $1,003/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,300 a year, between Mankato and St. Cloud.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
MankatoSt. Cloud
Snow a year39″48″
January low6°F3°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)161d144d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)26th52nd
Outdoors & history
MankatoSt. Cloud
Conserved land5.8%5.2%
Settled18521856
National Register places1414
Archive photos6—
Famous people born here68—
Community
MankatoSt. Cloud
Library hours a week52 hrs57 hrs
Colleges in town23
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

94 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Mankato ↔ St. Cloud94 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MankatoSt. Cloud
People
Population 45,473Lowest 70,629Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +13.2%Highest MN: +7.6% +4.6%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 26.5±0.6Lowest 32% below MN 30.6±0.7Highest 21% below MN
Kids under 18 17%±1.1Lowest MN: 22.9% 21.9%±1.3Highest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 12.7%±1Lowest MN: 17.3% 13.3%±0.9Highest MN: 17.3%
St. Cloud and Mankato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.1%Highest MN: 39.4% 30.4%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 23%±1.3Highest MN: 5.8% 13.6%±1.1Lowest MN: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,873±$4kHighest 25% below MN $61,374±$4kLowest 31% below MN
Mankato and St. Cloud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $261,700±$10kHighest 21% below MN $225,000±$7kLowest 32% below MN
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,132±$57Highest 12% below MN $1,003±$44Lowest 22% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,551Highest 24% below MN $2,320Lowest 31% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 49.8%±6.1Highest MN: 48.1% 47.5%±4.7Lowest MN: 48.1%
Mankato and St. Cloud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20.6%Highest MN: 9.3% 20.2%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 50%Highest MN: 72.2% 48.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than MN 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 14 minLowest 39% below MN 20 minHighest 13% below MN
Work from home 7.8%±1.4Lowest MN: 17.6% 8.5%±1.2Highest MN: 17.6%
St. Cloud and Mankato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 47.3%Highest 44%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 3.3 miLowest 4.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.61Highest 1.56Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town North Mankato (11%)Waite Park (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in St. CloudFew work in Mankato
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 5.8%Highest 5.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 12.0 miLowest 16.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 21Lowest 47Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.1Highest 53.4Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #98 of 230 in MN#214 of 230 in MN
School district MANKATO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTSTRIDE Academy · MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
High school in town Mankato East Senior HighTechnical Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.8Highest 17.9Lowest
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Mankato neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mankato’s Town Square.

St. Cloud neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Life Along the Mississippi

1 neighbor in St. Cloud can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Mankato and St. Cloud

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Mankato

Towns like Mankato

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Post to Mankato

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in