Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portland, OR
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
Portland
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ 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.
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $15,957 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 24°F
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($264,900 vs $523,100)
14% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,530)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Portland by $15,957/yr
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
Portland
Median Income
$15,957
$85,876 vs $69,919/yr
St. Paul
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
14% lower
617.7 vs 720.1 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$258k less
$264,900 vs $523,100
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portland, OR | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $523,100⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,530⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,876 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 219⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 263⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.5% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portland SD 1J | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.3°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.9" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 646,101 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portland's cost of living index is 106.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories. Portland 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 Portland to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($523,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($85,876 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portland, OR and St. Paul, MN are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.