Median Income
$68,359
household / year
Median Home Value
$269,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,204
gross / month
Cost of Living
104
national avg = 100

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

West St. Paul is a small city of 20,820 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $68,359 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: West St. Paul stands out for solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether West St. Paul is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All West 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

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

Metric West St. Paul, MN National Avg
Median Home Value $269,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,204 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 61.4% 65.9%
Median Household Income $68,359 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

West St. Paul's violent crime rate is 162.7 per 100,000 residents — 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
162.7 /100k
Property Crime
4302.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

West St. Paul is served primarily by West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric West St. Paul, MN National Avg
School District West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan —
Elementary Schools 5 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 4 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 35.4% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 92.4% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

West 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.

MetricWest St. Paul, MN
Average High — January23.9°F
Average High — July82.6°F
Annual Precipitation29.2"
Annual Snowfall51.2"

Demographics

MetricWest St. Paul, MNNational Avg
Population20,820—
Median Age38.938.9
Unemployment Rate5.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.5 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)74.5%59.3%
Black or African American5.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino12.8%18.9%
Asian2.2%6.3%
Under 1818.7%22.2%
65 and over20.4%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sunfish Lake, MN 2 mi Lilydale, MN 2 mi South St. Paul, MN 2 mi Mendota Heights, MN 3 mi St. Paul, MN 3 mi

ZIP Codes in West St. Paul

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

55118

West St. Paul vs Other Cities

West St. Paul, MN vs Sunfish Lake, MN West St. Paul, MN vs Lilydale, MN West St. Paul, MN vs South St. Paul, MN West St. Paul, MN vs Mendota Heights, MN West St. Paul, MN vs St. Paul, MN

Frequently Asked Questions

West St. Paul's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts West St. Paul roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $269,500 and median rent is $1,204/month.
West St. Paul's violent crime rate is 162.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4302.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West St. Paul are operated by West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan. The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 35.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West St. Paul, MN has a population of 20,820, a median household income of $68,359, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
West 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).
West St. Paul, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55118.
The population of West St. Paul, Minnesota is 20,820 with a median age of 38.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West St. Paul: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $269,500, median household income $68,359, crime index 108 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West St. Paul side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.