St. Peter, MN Apartment Renter's Guide

I feel all right / It's a Minnesota night / You've got nothing left to show me but your smile / Stars so bright on this Minnesota night / Can we cut the conversation for a little while? - From "Minnesota" by The Push Stars

The stars are definitely bright in St. Peter, Minnesota, a small city located approximately 60 miles south of Minneapolis-St. Paul in the gorgeous Minnesota River Valley. With a population of 11,196 residents at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, many locals can smile because they can enjoy the amenities of a big city without suffering from pollution or traffic. Also, most people don't know a sneaky man by the name of Joe Rolette, who stole the bill that would have named St. Peter the capital of Minnesota. Although that didn't happen, residents and visitors alike can enjoy the architecture and structures inspired by this notion.

St. Peter is the 88th largest community in Minnesota. It also has a mixed workforce and a cost of living that's less than the state and national average. What does this mean? You'll have to do some research to find an apartment for rent. Thus, here are a few things to keep in mind as you conduct your apartment search.

How Much It Will Cost?

As stated, the cost of living here is lower, so you can find affordable one-bedroom apartment, and even two-bedroom apartments. Sounds great right? Well, that's when you can find a good a vacancy. With a high-occupied rate and lower vacancy rate, you can't afford to lose out on an opportunity.

What to Expect

Give yourself enough time to conduct a thorough search for apartments in St. Peter. On average, you need four to six weeks to look for a place that fits your needs and style. Although this might be difficult, try and schedule a number of appointments to see different apartments. This will give you an advantage in finding what works for you; especially, if you're looking for apartments with paid utilities. Your chances at opportunity always increase in the summer.

What You Need

It's not rocket science. Since you know you're on a time crunch to sealing your rental deal, make sure to prepare. You can save yourself the strikes to your credit rating by pulling a credit report and providing it to apartment or property management. Make sure you have enough money to cover all costs, including deposits, utilities if necessary, and prorated fees if applicable. Finally, always be professional. Don't conduct your search wearing flip-flops, cut-off jeans, and a ripped shirt. People want to know they're renting to responsible individuals.

If you didn't get the message, St. Peter is not a huge place, so you're not inundated with neighborhood boundaries and data. You'll also find the town has a Walk Score of 72, which means many people actually walk to get around. Of course, that depends on location. These locations include City Center and N. 5th Street / W. Broadway Avenue.

City Center: In this suburban St. Peter neighborhood, you will find high-rise apartments, as well as medium-sized (three- to four-bedroom apartments) and small (studio, and one- and two-bedroom) apartments. The housing supply in this area, however, is tight; but, if you're lucky and find a rental, you can enjoy Gustavus Marketplace, Courtyard Caf̩ and enjoy a stroll through Swan Lake WMA.

N. 5th Street / W. Broadway Avenue: This suburban St. Peter neighborhood offers a rental price that ranges way lower than other Minnesota neighborhood averages, and slightly lower than the City Center neighborhood. You won't find high-rise apartments, but you can find mobile homes, enjoy a great meal at Evelyn Young Dining Room, have a beer a Shiloh's Hope and shop at St. Peter Food Co-op & Deli.

Five previous governors of Minnesota hail from St. Peter, and the King of Sweden and his family love to visit the internationally renowned Gustavus Adolphus College. Not to mention, the town is the site of the former Traverse des Sioux, or "crossing of the Sioux;" Jesse James and his gang spent the night in one of the town's hotels before robbing a bank in Northfield; and, President Grover Cleveland gave a campaign speech from the Nicollet Hotel's balcony. What a background!

St. Peter may not be a booming city, but it's a place rich in community, history, and love of country. When you travel along Highway 169, you'll witness this love through the perfected line-up of 50 flapping American flags along Minnesota Square Park. You can visit the graves of St. Peter's founder, Captain William Dodd, his wife, and young daughter behind one of the local churches. And once you've acclimated into the community, you can learn what all the fuss is about during Winterfest, the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Ambassador Blues festival, the Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebration, Rock Bend Folk Festival, Nicollet County Fair, and Oktoberfest.

Or, if you want to enjoy some outdoor fun, you can camp out, fish, and enjoy stars so bright on a Minnesota night at the Riverside Municipal Campground, located on the banks of the Minnesota River.