Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
St. Paul
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
21% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 24°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $8,712 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($264,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
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 Raleigh by $8,712/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Raleigh
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$8,712
$78,631 vs $69,919/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
21% lower
488.8 vs 617.7 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.0% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$82k less
$264,900 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 308,806 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 15 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 15 and St. Paul wins 8. 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 Raleigh to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $264,900 median home), income ($78,631 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and St. Paul, MN are about 985 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.