Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 13 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
13
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $198k less ($66,700 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($989 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 33°F vs 24°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $32,158/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 9.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $32,158 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Detroit
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
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Detroit
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Detroit
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Detroit
Median Home Value
$198k less
$66,700 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$32,158
$69,919 vs $37,761/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
65% lower
617.7 vs 1781.3 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
9.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Detroit is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 13 of 23 categories. Detroit wins 10 and St. Paul wins 13. 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 Detroit to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $264,900 median home), income ($37,761 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and St. Paul, MN are about 530 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.