Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
24% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $16,637 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 24°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($264,900 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Austin by $16,637/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$16,637
$86,556 vs $69,919/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
24% lower
466.9 vs 617.7 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.0% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$197k less
$264,900 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 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 Austin to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($86,556 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 1,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.