Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 13 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
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.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($196,700 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $162/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,174)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 24°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails St. Paul by $5,668/yr
St. Paul, MN
Pros
9% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,668 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Oklahoma City
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
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$68k less
$196,700 vs $264,900
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$5,668
$69,919 vs $64,251/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
9% lower
617.7 vs 676.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 13 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 13 and St. Paul wins 10. 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 Oklahoma City to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $264,900 median home), income ($64,251 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and St. Paul, MN are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.