Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $19,293 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 24°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $420k less ($264,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $807/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,981)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $19,293/yr
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
Boston
Median Income
$19,293
$89,212 vs $69,919/yr
St. Paul
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
2% lower
617.7 vs 627.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$420k less
$264,900 vs $684,900
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 11 and St. Paul wins 12. 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 Boston to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $264,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.