Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 12 of 23 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($264,900 vs $412,100)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,489)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $29,083/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
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.2%)
West Jordan, UT
Pros
52% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $29,083 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 24°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,100
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$147k less
$264,900 vs $412,100
West Jordan
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$29,083
$99,002 vs $69,919/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
52% lower
294.2 vs 617.7 per 100k
West Jordan
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.0% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 ✓ Lower | $412,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 40.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 12 of 23 categories. St. Paul wins 11 and West Jordan 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 St. Paul to West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $412,100 median home), income ($69,919 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and West Jordan, UT are about 1,002 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.