Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
13% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 32°F vs 24°F
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $40k less ($264,900 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,314)
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
Chicago
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$1,754
$71,673 vs $69,919/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
13% lower
539.8 vs 617.7 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$40k less
$264,900 vs $304,500
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 12 and St. Paul wins 11. 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 Chicago to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and St. Paul, MN are about 347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.