Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
St. Paul
Minnesota
9
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,220 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 24°F
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $806k less ($264,900 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1303/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,477)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $64,220/yr
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
Carlsbad
Median Income
$64,220
$134,139 vs $69,919/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
68% lower
199.1 vs 617.7 per 100k
St. Paul
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$806k less
$264,900 vs $1,070,500
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.0% unemployment
St. Paul
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 82.6°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 14 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 14 and St. Paul wins 9. 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 Carlsbad to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($134,139 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.