Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than St. Paul
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,324 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 24°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $655k less ($264,900 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,853)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boulder by $10,324/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
Boulder
Median Income
$10,324
$80,243 vs $69,919/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
48% lower
322.3 vs 617.7 per 100k
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$655k less
$264,900 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 13 and St. Paul wins 10. 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 Boulder to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $264,900 median home), income ($80,243 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and St. Paul, MN are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.