Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $6,767 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,423)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Median income trails Irving by $6,767/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Irving
Median Income
$6,767
$76,686 vs $69,919/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
55% lower
275.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, 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 | $259,500 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Irving is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 861 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.