In addition to many winter-time activities, St. Cloud offers a low cost of living, a high quantity of jobs, one of Minnesota's best educational systems and a thriving arts community. The city's residents face wintry weather head on, or perhaps it's feet first.Nordic skiing and snowshoeing are favorite pastimes in St. Cloud. The parks department offers more than three miles of lighted ski trails for residents wanting to pack some powder after dark. Some of the best fishing happens during the winter months, when many of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes freeze over and lines are dropped into holes cut in the ice. Huge walleyes, crappies and muskies have been pulled out of St. Cloud's frozen lakes. The winter fun isn’t limited to the outdoors.
Youth leaguers, weekend warriors and serious athletes can find a home at one of the several indoor hockey and ice skating arenas including the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex. Or they can cheer on the home team, the St. Cloud State University Huskies, at the National Hockey Center. Winter can also have economic advantages for St. Cloud residents and businesses, particularly in the area of tourism, and for the past 50 years, St. Cloud State University Department of Economics, School of Public Affairs has hosted the Winter Institute, bringing together the brightest minds to discuss how weather can encourage economic development.
Population: 66,523
Average January low: -1 degrees
Average annual snowfall: 46 inches
Median home price: $118,500
Unemployment rate: 5.1 percent