Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
St. Paul
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
34% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 24°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Median income trails St. Paul by $9,980/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($264,900 vs $358,400)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,390)
Households earn $9,980 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
34% lower
408.7 vs 617.7 per 100k
Elizabeth
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Income
$9,980
$69,919 vs $59,939/yr
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$94k less
$264,900 vs $358,400
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 9 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 Elizabeth to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $264,900 median home), income ($59,939 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and St. Paul, MN are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.