Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
22% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 24°F
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $123/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,297)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
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
Arlington
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$1,817
$71,736 vs $69,919/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
22% lower
482.9 vs 617.7 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$14k less
$251,300 vs $264,900
Arlington
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 14 and St. Paul wins 8. 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 Arlington to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.