Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 22 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $25,812 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
39% less violent crime than Anchorage
Homes cost $99k less ($264,900 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $231/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,405)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $25,812/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
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$25,812
$95,731 vs $69,919/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 104.5 on the COL index
St. Paul
Violent Crime
39% lower
617.7 vs 1014.8 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$99k less
$264,900 vs $363,800
St. Paul
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 82.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 23.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 22 categories. Anchorage wins 8 and St. Paul wins 14. 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 Anchorage to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($95,731 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and St. Paul, MN are about 2,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.