St. James, MN housing market
Home prices around St. James have risen about 50% over the past 5 years. No new homes were permitted in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how St. James compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 50% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around St. James rose 50% over the past 5 years, faster than across Minnesota (37%). Last year prices rose 5.4%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical St. James home at roughly $189,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Minnesota since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +5.4% | +109% | +127% |
| 2024 | −2.3% | +98% | +120% |
| 2023 | +15% | +103% | +113% |
| 2022 | +18% | +76% | +104% |
| 2021 | +7.1% | +49% | +82% |
| 2020 | −0.4% | +39% | +66% |
| 2019 | +4.2% | +40% | +61% |
| 2018 | +3.8% | +34% | +55% |
| 2017 | +4.7% | +30% | +46% |
| 2016 | +4.2% | +24% | +38% |
| 2015 | −0.2% | +19% | +32% |
| 2014 | +2.1% | +19% | +28% |
| 2013 | −2.9% | +17% | +21% |
| 2012 | +1.6% | +20% | +16% |
| 2011 | −6.2% | +18% | +18% |
| 2010 | −0.3% | +26% | +25% |
| 2009 | −6.2% | +26% | +33% |
| 2008 | +1.7% | +35% | +42% |
| 2007 | −1.9% | +32% | +48% |
| 2006 | +6% | +35% | +49% |
| 2005 | +4.4% | +27% | +45% |
| 2004 | +6.9% | +22% | +34% |
| 2003 | +1.3% | +14% | +23% |
| 2002 | +4.7% | +13% | +18% |
| 2001 | +7.5% | +7.5% | +9.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
How St. James ranks on rising home prices →
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 56081, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in St. James in 2025. The last year with any was 2024 (4 new homes).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, St. James gained 188 residents while 6 new homes were permitted: about 31 new residents per new home. Population grew faster than building, so existing homes filled up: a sign of tight supply. Across Minnesota: 2.2 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 4 | $900,000 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $350,000 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $200,000 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $138,000 |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $127,000 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $230,000 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $814,000 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $971,000 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2006 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $641,000 |
| 2005 | 18 | 6 | 12 | $1.9 million |
| 2004 | 14 | 6 | 8 | $1.3 million |
| 2003 | 16 | 16 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| 2002 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $668,000 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $728,000 |
| 2000 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $658,000 |
How St. James ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
St. James and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. James | — | +5.4%† | $1,000 | 0 | $60,242 |
| St. James | $161K | +2.4% | $1,000 | — | $99,167 |
| Rosendale | — | +5.4%† | $1,010 | — | $71,250 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
2 years of income
The typical St. James home costs about 2 years of the town's median household income, less than across Minnesota (3.9 years).
How St. James ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,000
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in St. James is $1,000 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in St. James pay a median of $839, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 20% of the town's median household income.
Studio $690 · 4 bedrooms $1,420
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (56081; Brown County, MN), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in St. James
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.