Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories
Spokane
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
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.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $114/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 24°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails St. Paul by $6,603/yr
St. Paul, MN
Pros
8% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,603 more per year on average
Homes cost $22k less ($264,900 vs $286,900)
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
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Spokane
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 87.1°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$6,603
$69,919 vs $63,316/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
8% lower
617.7 vs 674.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$22k less
$264,900 vs $286,900
St. Paul
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,922 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane's cost of living index is 101.0 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories. Spokane wins 10 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 Spokane to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $264,900 median home), income ($63,316 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and St. Paul, MN are about 1,171 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.