City comparison
Yes. Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 165 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $2,175 in Anaheim.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Anaheim and St Paul. Anaheim averages 76°F while St Paul averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,175 versus $1,281.
Anaheim is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Anaheim is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. St Paul at $1,281 average has pockets that run $1,081 and others at $1,681: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Anaheim and St Paul are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,175 a month in Anaheim to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $894 a month (41%).
Median household income goes from $95,227 in Anaheim to $73,394 in St Paul, down $21,833 (23%).
The crime index goes from 143 in Anaheim to 166 in St Paul, up 23 points (16%).
The move
St Paul and Anaheim are 1,523 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $2,175 a month in Anaheim, up $894 a month (70%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $95,227 in Anaheim, up $21,833 (30%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 143 in Anaheim, down 23 points (14%).
Anaheim, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Anaheim and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
41% cheaper
St Paul rent is 41% cheaper than Anaheim
Anaheim
$2,175/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $2,175 in Anaheim, so St Paul is 41% cheaper. That's roughly $894/month back in your pocket ($10,728/year). Over five years that's $53,640 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Anaheim, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Anaheim? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Anaheim's median income is 30% higher than St Paul
Anaheim
Winner$95,227
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Anaheim (about $21,833 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Anaheim is the stronger labor market on paper. St Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
14% lower crime
Anaheim's crime index is 14% lower than St Paul
Anaheim
Winner143 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Anaheim's crime index is 143 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Anaheim. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Anaheim, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Paul. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Anaheim weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Anaheim
Winner76°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Anaheim averages about 76°F (83°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Anaheim sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Anaheim scores 72% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose St Paul if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 30% higher ($95,227), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Anaheim is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than St Paul (143 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Paul
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 41% cheaper here at about $1,281 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Anaheim runs $2,175/month while St Paul sits at $1,281 — roughly 41% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Anaheim-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
St Paul rent at $1,281/month is still below Anaheim's $2,175, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $95,227 in Anaheim versus $73,394 in St Paul.
Between Anaheim and St Paul, St Paul is ahead on housing cost — $1,281/month rent against $2,175. Lean Anaheim instead when your $95,227 income offer in Anaheim outweighs saving $894/month in St Paul.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Anaheim and St Paul, plus other cities in CA and MN.
