St. Paul is a small town of 1,129 in Virginia, with a median household income of $24,886
and a 20.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Paul stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether St. Paul is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All 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: 88.6
St. Paul's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Paul costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Paul, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$168,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$479
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$24,886
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
St. Paul's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents
— 51% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
184.6 /100k
Property Crime
1530.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Paul is served primarily by Wise County Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Paul, VA
National Avg
School District
Wise County Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Paul sees average highs of 40.2°F in January
and 79.9°F in July,
with 47.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.3 inches of snow per year.
St. Paul's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Paul roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $168,500 and median rent is $479/month.
St. Paul's violent crime rate is 184.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1530.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Paul are operated by Wise County Public Schools.
The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Paul, VA has a population of 1,129, a median household income of $24,886, and an unemployment rate of 20.5%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
St. Paul averages 40.2°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.7 inches
with about 38.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Paul, VA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 24283.
The population of St. Paul, Virginia is 1,129 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Paul: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $168,500, median household income $24,886, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Paul side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
