Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 16 of 23 categories
Richmond
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
St. Paul
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,699 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 24°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($264,900 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,853)
33% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Richmond by $16,699/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
Richmond
Median Income
$16,699
$86,618 vs $69,919/yr
St. Paul
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
33% lower
617.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$360k less
$264,900 vs $624,800
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
St. Paul
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.6°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 53.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 16 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 7 and St. Paul wins 16. 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 Richmond to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $264,900 median home), income ($86,618 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.