Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
St. Paul
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,340 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 24°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $125k less ($264,900 vs $390,200)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $51,340/yr
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$51,340
$121,259 vs $69,919/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
83% lower
106.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$125k less
$264,900 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and St. Paul wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $264,900 median home), income ($121,259 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.