Home Insurance in Stearns County, Minnesota
Homes in Stearns County carry a median value of $273,400 - 17% lower than the Minnesota median.
The typical home in Stearns County was built around 1985. Aging wiring, roofing and plumbing in older homes can push up the cost to insure or rebuild them. About 21% of homes were built before 1960, about 8 points below Minnesota's 29%.
Housing in Stearns County breaks down to 72% single-family homes, 22% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
In Stearns County, about 59% of owner-occupied homes have a mortgage - lenders require hazard insurance on every mortgaged home.
The vacancy rate is 8%; vacant or unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form than an owner-occupied policy. About 68% of occupied homes in Stearns County are owner-occupied.
Homes heated with propane can carry added fire risk. Fuel-tank leaks and spills are often excluded from standard homeowners policies. Most homes in Stearns County - 53% - are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Stearns County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are strong wind (Relatively High), hail (Relatively High) and tornado (Relatively High).
Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy. As of September 2026, Stearns County has 160 active NFIP flood policies on file.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in Minnesota is $1,988 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $273,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1985 |
| Owner-occupied share | 68% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 59% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Relatively High), Hail (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 160 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,988 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Albany
- Avon
- Belgrade
- Brooten
- Cold Spring
- Elrosa
- Freeport
- Holdingford
- Kimball
- Lake Henry
- Meire Grove
- Melrose
- New Munich
- Paynesville
- Richmond
- Rockville
- Roscoe
- Sartell
- Spring Hill
- St. Anthony
- St. Augusta
- St. Cloud
- St. Joseph
- St. Martin
- Waite Park
Smaller communities
-
Greenwald
- Median home value: $149,200
- Median year built: 1958
- Owner-occupied share: 92%
-
Sauk Centre
- Median home value: $225,700
- Median year built: 1968
- Owner-occupied share: 56%
-
St. Rosa
- Median home value: $325,000
- Median year built: 1963
- Owner-occupied share: 81%
-
St. Stephen
- Median home value: $262,100
- Median year built: 1987
- Owner-occupied share: 97%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)