ZIP Code · MN

ZIP 56301

Part of Saint Cloud, MN

Pop. 35,580·Stearns County·110th most expensive ZIP in Minnesota

Median rent (all units)

$1,319/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$613

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 56301 · $1,319

More affordable than 85% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$950

1 BR

$1,000

2 BR

$1,310

3 BR

$1,740

4 BR+

$2,030

Research median

$1,310/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

October. Asking rents in ZIP 56301 usually run 1.6% below trend in October and 0.8% above it in January, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 56301 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of Minnesota

Rent in ZIP 56301 changed +5.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 102 Minnesota ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,142) is $1,829 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,740); a 4-bedroom is $2,030.

Rank in Saint Cloud

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Saint Cloud.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 56387, 3 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,143/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 56301. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$15,828/yr

At $1,319/mo median

Location

CitySaint Cloud

StateMN

CountyStearns County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.4% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 56301 (Saint Cloud, MN) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 32% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,580

Median income

$73,142

Median age

27.1

Renters

49.1%

Age distribution

22.8%

37.6%

20.6%

Under 1822.8%

18–3437.6%

35–5420.6%

55–648.2%

65+10.9%

Gender

51.5%

48.5%

Male51.5%

Female48.5%

Race & ethnicity

65%

21.8%

White65%

Black21.8%

Hispanic5.3%

Asian4.5%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

22.5%

36%

32%

No HS diploma9.4%

HS diploma22.5%

Some college36%

Bachelor's+32%

Housing tenure

50.9%

49.1%

Owner50.9%

Renter49.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 56301 in Saint Cloud, MN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$953 → $1,319

up 38.4%

Income

$61,561 → $73,142

up 18.8%

Population

35,453 → 35,580

up 0.4%

Renter share

47.3% → 49.1%

+1.8 pts

Bachelor's+

33.1% → 32%

-1.1 pts

Median age

26.6 → 27.1

+0.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 56301 in Saint Cloud, MN paid around $953 a month. That figure now sits near $1,319, up 38.4% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 56301 in Saint Cloud, MN now reports about $73,142, up from $61,561 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has risen from 47.3% to 49.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 56301 in Saint Cloud, MN reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 56301

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 56301 covers Saint Cloud, MN. The median rent here is $1,319/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,000/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,310/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($73,142/yr), ZIP 56301 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 56301?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $53,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,319/mo in ZIP 56301. The local median household income is $73,142/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 56301?

Rent in ZIP 56301 has risen 5.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 56301?

Asking rents in ZIP 56301 are usually lowest in October, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in January, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $32 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 56301 compare to other ZIPs in Minnesota?

ZIP 56301 is one of the more affordable among Minnesota ZIP codes for rent, ranking #110 of 123 at $1,319/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 56301 changed +5.4%, against a typical +3.4% across the 102 Minnesota ZIP codes Zillow tracks.