Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
67% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 24°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $31k less ($264,900 vs $296,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,264)
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
Denton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Median Income
$2,002
$71,921 vs $69,919/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
67% lower
204.2 vs 617.7 per 100k
Denton
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$31k less
$264,900 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, 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 | $296,100 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton 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 Denton to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.