Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 24°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
St. Paul, MN
Pros
23% less violent crime than Phoenix
Homes cost $75k less ($264,900 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,322)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 104°F
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
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Phoenix
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Income
$2,173
$72,092 vs $69,919/yr
Phoenix
Summer Heat
21.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Violent Crime
23% lower
617.7 vs 799.6 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$75k less
$264,900 vs $340,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories. Phoenix 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 Phoenix to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $264,900 median home), income ($72,092 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and St. Paul, MN are about 1,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.