St. Paul 83 Exceptional
St. Paul Livability #27 ranked city in Minnesota#848 ranked city in the USARanks better than 97% of areas
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St. Paul, MN - The Saintly City

St. Paul, MN, known as 'The Saintly City,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in eastern Minnesota, St. Paul is a large city that serves as the capital and a major cultural and economic hub of the state. Major nearby cities like Minneapolis and Bloomington enhance its status as a central point in the region. St. Paul's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

St. Paul is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Cathedral of Saint Paul, the Minnesota State Capitol, and the historic Landmark Center. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Como Park Zoo & Conservatory to the bustling Grand Avenue, known for its shopping and dining. St. Paul's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Midwestern cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the Minnesota State Fair highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate St. Paul's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like the University of St. Thomas contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in St. Paul is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and the Minnesota Museum of American Art are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in St. Paul provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

St. Paul’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Minnesota Wild (NHL) and the St. Paul Saints (MiLB), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in St. Paul include healthcare, education, and government, with significant employers such as HealthPartners and the State of Minnesota driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and light rail, making commuting convenient. St. Paul's weather features cold winters and warm summers, offering a full range of seasonal activities.

Pros and Cons of Living in St. Paul

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    Conveniently located, the area boasts a variety of amenities, including grocery stores, shopping, coffee shops and entertainment options all within walking distance.

  • Commute Commute

    The high commute score in this area could imply easy access to public transportation, as well as shorter-than-average commute times to your workplace.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Everyday cost of living expenses like goods and services, housing, groceries, transportation, health care and utilities are far below the national average.

  • Employment Employment

    With higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates, this area scores extremely well in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    Impressive scores in the housing category characterize this area, potentially attributed to the availability of affordable housing, strong appreciation rates and high home values.

CONS
  • Crime Crime

    Reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people, this area may be perceived as an unsafe place to reside. These statistics encompass both violent and property crime rates.

What's it like Living in St. Paul?

St. Paul is a large city located in the state of Minnesota. The city has a population of 315,338 inhabitants. St. Paul has a population density of 6,067 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. St. Paul could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 33 years old is below the nation’s average. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 43% of the St. Paul population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make St. Paul your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 24 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in St. Paul could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Minnesota if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in St. Paul and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, education, employment, housing and other important metrics.

Using data and statistics St. Paul has received a livability score of 81/100. This score is ranked in the 95th percentile when compared to all other cities. This is a phenomenal score, as St. Paul ranks well in multiple categories! St. Paul also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that St. Paul has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (B-), employment (B) and housing (A+). The bad news for St. Paul, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: crime (F).

The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in St. Paul, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in St. Paul undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, Science Museum of Minnesota, and Xcel Energy Center.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in St. Paul can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in St. Paul is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in St. Paul come in at $383,584, which is 13.1% higher than the Minnesota average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In St. Paul, the home price to income ratio is 4.3, which is 16.2% higher than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around St. Paul

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Compare St. Paul, MN Livability

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      St. Paul transportation information

      Statistic St. Paul Minnesota National
      Average one way commute24min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work64.9%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.8%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit9.0%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle1.1%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk3.8%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home9.5%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The St. Paul, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.