Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $125k less ($139,600 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 24°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,174)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $21,829/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
75% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $21,829 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Memphis
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
Memphis
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$125k less
$139,600 vs $264,900
Memphis
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$21,829
$69,919 vs $48,090/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
75% lower
617.7 vs 2501.3 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Memphis wins 11 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 Memphis to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $264,900 median home), income ($48,090 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and St. Paul, MN are about 700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.