Is Saint Louis County, MN good for real estate investing?

Saint Louis County has an investment score of 78/100, rated as "Strong Buy". The county ranks #10 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Saint Louis?

The rent-to-price ratio in Saint Louis County is 9.17% annually, which ranks in the 96th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Saint Louis?

The median home price in Saint Louis County is $235,992. This ranks #509 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Saint Louis?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Saint Louis County would generate negative cash flow of $65/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Saint Louis County

MinnesotaPopulation: 200,122Duluth, MN Metro

/100

Strong Buy

#10 of 1,000 counties

#1 in Minnesota (87 counties)

Market Snapshot

$235,992

Median Home Price

1% above national median

$1,803/mo

Median Rent

19% above national median

9.17%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 4% nationally

-$65

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$235,992

Down Payment (20%)$47,198

Loan Amount$188,794

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,803

Monthly P&I-$1,237

Est. Expenses (35%)-$631

Net Cash Flow-$65/mo

6.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-1.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

9.17%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 6.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

78/100

Cash Flow(30%)

92/100

Based on 9.17% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

92/100

Based on 7.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

77/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (9.17%)
+Strong price appreciation (+7.0% YoY)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 6.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

200,122

Median Income

$66,491

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.5x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentSaint LouisMN	78	$235,992	$1,803	9.17%	Strong Buy
RedwoodMN	78	$177,081	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
WatonwanMN	78	$171,215	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
MartinMN	76	$209,481	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
RenvilleMN	75	$187,350	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
PipestoneMN	75	$189,757	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View

The Bottom Line

Strong BuySaint Louis is a strong buy market with excellent fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

Saint Louis County in Minnesota scores 78/100, ranking #10 of 1,000 US counties (top 1%). The 9.17% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-65/mo

Cap Rate

6.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-1.4%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Saint Louis?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$235,992

Down Payment (20%)$47,198

Loan Amount$188,794

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,803

Monthly P&I-$1,237

Est. Expenses (35%)-$631

Net Cash Flow-$65/mo

6.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-1.4%

Cash-on-Cash Return

9.17%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 6.0% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

78/100

Cash Flow(30%)

92/100

Based on 9.17% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

92/100

Based on 7.0% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

77/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentSaint LouisMN	78	$235,992	$1,803	9.17%	Strong Buy
RedwoodMN	78	$177,081	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
WatonwanMN	78	$171,215	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
MartinMN	76	$209,481	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
RenvilleMN	75	$187,350	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
PipestoneMN	75	$189,757	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View

The Bottom Line

Strong BuySaint Louis is a strong buy market with excellent fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

Saint Louis County in Minnesota scores 78/100, ranking #10 of 1,000 US counties (top 1%). The 9.17% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-65/mo

Cap Rate

6.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-1.4%