Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 13 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
St. Paul
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
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.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($264,900 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $211/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,385)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Households earn $5,440 more per year on average
Cons
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
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
16% lower
518.1 vs 617.7 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Income
$5,440
$69,919 vs $64,479/yr
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$201k less
$264,900 vs $466,300
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 13 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 10 and St. Paul wins 13. 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 Arden-Arcade to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $264,900 median home), income ($64,479 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,513 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.