Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
36% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $13,019 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 24°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($264,900 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,526)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sparks by $13,019/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
Sparks
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$13,019
$82,938 vs $69,919/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
36% lower
394.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Sparks
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$159k less
$264,900 vs $423,500
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 12 and St. Paul wins 11. 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 Sparks to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $264,900 median home), income ($82,938 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and St. Paul, MN are about 1,403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.