Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
91% less violent crime than St. Paul
Homes cost $57k less ($207,800 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 24°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $11,629/yr
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $11,629 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lakeland
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
91% lower
56.0 vs 617.7 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$57k less
$207,800 vs $264,900
Lakeland
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$11,629
$69,919 vs $58,290/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($58,290 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and St. Paul, MN are about 1,318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.