Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Haven, CT
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories
New Haven
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736
St. Paul
Minnesota
15
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.
New Haven, CT
Pros
13% less violent crime than St. Paul
Homes cost $28k less ($236,500 vs $264,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 24°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $15,614/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Households earn $15,614 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,402)
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
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than New Haven
Key Differences at a Glance
New Haven
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Violent Crime
13% lower
534.8 vs 617.7 per 100k
New Haven
Median Home Value
$28k less
$236,500 vs $264,900
St. Paul
Median Income
$15,614
$69,919 vs $54,305/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Haven, CT | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $236,500 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,402⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,305 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.6% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 153⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | New Haven School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,736 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 28.6% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Haven's cost of living index is 98.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories. New Haven wins 8 and St. Paul wins 15. 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 New Haven to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($236,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($54,305 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Haven, CT and St. Paul, MN are about 1,045 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.