Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($264,900 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $720/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,894)
17% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vallejo by $16,193/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,193 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 24°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Violent Crime
17% lower
617.7 vs 739.8 per 100k
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$251k less
$264,900 vs $515,500
St. Paul
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Median Income
$16,193
$86,112 vs $69,919/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 15 of 23 categories. St. Paul wins 15 and Vallejo 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. Paul to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $515,500 median home), income ($69,919 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Vallejo, CA are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.