Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 21 categories
Dallas
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 24°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails St. Paul by $5,934/yr
St. Paul, MN
Pros
6% less violent crime than Dallas
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,305)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Households earn $5,934 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Dallas
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$5,934
$69,919 vs $63,985/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
6% lower
617.7 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 21 categories. Dallas wins 7 and St. Paul wins 14. 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 Dallas to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $264,900 median home), income ($63,985 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.