Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
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.
New York, NY
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 24°F
Households earn $6,688 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $467k less ($264,900 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $540/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
8% less violent crime than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.0%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
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
Median income trails New York by $6,688/yr
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
New York
Median Income
$6,688
$76,607 vs $69,919/yr
St. Paul
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
8% lower
617.7 vs 671.0 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$467k less
$264,900 vs $732,100
St. Paul
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | 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 | $732,100⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York'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 12 of 23 categories. New York wins 11 and St. Paul wins 12. 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 York to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($76,607 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and St. Paul, MN are about 1,013 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.