Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. George, UT
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
St. Paul
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
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.
St. George, UT
Pros
66% less violent crime than St. Paul
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 24°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($264,900 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 102°F
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.3%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than St. George
Key Differences at a Glance
St. George
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
66% lower
210.0 vs 617.7 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
19.3°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$586
$69,919 vs $69,333/yr
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$150k less
$264,900 vs $415,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. George, UT | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,200⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,335⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,333 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 55 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.6% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washington District | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.3" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,174 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.7% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. George's cost of living index is 96.1 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
St. George is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. St. George 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 St. George to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,200 vs $264,900 median home), income ($69,333 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. George, UT and St. Paul, MN are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.