Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($264,900 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $988/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $41,798/yr
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
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,798 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than St. Paul
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$352k less
$264,900 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$41,798
$111,717 vs $69,919/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
51% lower
301.4 vs 617.7 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 23 categories. St. Paul wins 12 and Tracy 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 St. Paul to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $617,300 median home), income ($69,919 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Tracy, CA are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.