Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 St. Paul leads 16 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($264,900 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,525)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
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
Median income trails Vancouver by $3,707/yr
Vancouver, WA
Pros
6% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 24°F
Households earn $3,707 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$139k less
$264,900 vs $403,400
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Median Income
$3,707
$73,626 vs $69,919/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
6% lower
582.3 vs 617.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 4.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
St. Paul is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 16 of 23 categories. St. Paul wins 16 and Vancouver wins 7. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($69,919 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Vancouver, WA are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.