Places › Minnesota › St. Paul

Living in St. Paul, MN

Big city in Minnesota

St. Paul is a big city in Minnesota, home to about 308,000 people, with 3.1 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is St. Paul a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Mild summers: highs around 81°F
  • Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
  • Easy flying: MSP is 7 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $2,443 state income tax per resident, 1.29% property tax
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how St. Paul ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
308,000
3.1 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
27°F / 81°F
Average daily highs · 40″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$296k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,260/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
105
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$2,443
State income tax per resident · 1.29% property tax
Safety
1.5× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, cold waves
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
44%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MSP
7 mi away

Living in St. Paul: common questions

What is the cost of living in St. Paul?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $296k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,260 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 105, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in St. Paul?

Minnesota collects about $2,443 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.29% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is St. Paul safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.5× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in St. Paul?

St. Paul has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 27°F and summer days around 81°F, with roughly 40″ of snow a year.

Does St. Paul get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.16 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to St. Paul?

The nearest major airport is MSP, about 7 mi away.

How St. Paul scores

Each bar compares St. Paul with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Big city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Dense & urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Walk & transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Long, snowy winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Good
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Good
🧸Kids & family Average
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Below average
🎭Culture Excellent
🛡️Safety Moderate crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Good

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Is St. Paul right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.