What are the schools like in South St. Paul, MN?

South St. Paul is served primarily by South St. Paul Public School Dist. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in South St. Paul?

The median household income in South St. Paul, MN is $82,644 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in South St. Paul, MN?

South St. Paul has an average high temperature of 23.9°F in January and 82.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.2 inches.

South St. Paul, MN Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is South St. Paul, MN affordable or expensive?

South St. Paul's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means South St. Paul is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $249,600 and the median rent is $1,094 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in South St. Paul, MN?

South St. Paul has a violent crime rate of 348.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1322.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is South St. Paul, MN a Good Place to Live?

South St. Paul is a small city of 20,598 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $82,644 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: South St. Paul stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South St. Paul is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South St. Paul city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 104.5

South St. Paul's overall cost of living index is 104.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South St. Paul costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	South St. Paul, MN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$249,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,094	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,644	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

South St. Paul's violent crime rate is 348.7 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

348.7 /100k

Property Crime

1322.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

South St. Paul is served primarily by South St. Paul Public School Dist. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	South St. Paul, MN	National Avg
School District	South St. Paul Public School Dist	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

South St. Paul sees average highs of 23.9°F in January and 82.6°F in July, with 29.2 inches of annual precipitation and 51.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	South St. Paul, MN
Average High — January	23.9°F
Average High — July	82.6°F
Annual Precipitation	29.2"
Annual Snowfall	51.2"

Demographics

Metric	South St. Paul, MN	National Avg
Population	20,598	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	75.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.6%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Newport, MN 2 mi West St. Paul, MN 2 mi Sunfish Lake, MN 3 mi Inver Grove Heights, MN 4 mi St. Paul Park, MN 4 mi

ZIP Codes in South St. Paul

South St. Paul, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

55075

South St. Paul vs Other Cities

South St. Paul, MN vs Newport, MN South St. Paul, MN vs West St. Paul, MN South St. Paul, MN vs Sunfish Lake, MN South St. Paul, MN vs Inver Grove Heights, MN South St. Paul, MN vs St. Paul Park, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South St. Paul, MN affordable or expensive?

South St. Paul's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts South St. Paul roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $249,600 and median rent is $1,094/month.

What is the crime rate in South St. Paul, MN?

South St. Paul's violent crime rate is 348.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1322.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in South St. Paul?

Public schools in South St. Paul are operated by South St. Paul Public School Dist. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is South St. Paul, MN a good place to live?

South St. Paul, MN has a population of 20,598, a median household income of $82,644, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in South St. Paul?

South St. Paul averages 23.9°F in January and 82.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.2 inches with about 51.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in South St. Paul?

South St. Paul, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55075.

What is the population of South St. Paul?

The population of South St. Paul, Minnesota is 20,598 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in South St. Paul?

Key numbers for living in South St. Paul: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $249,600, median household income $82,644, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South St. Paul side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.