City comparison
Yes. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and St Paul. Austin averages 68°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 $1,729 versus $1,281.
Austin 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 Austin 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
Austin and St Paul are 1,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $448 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $73,394 in St Paul, down $20,264 (22%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 166 in St Paul, up 4 points (2%).
The move
St Paul and Austin are 1,045 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $448 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $93,658 in Austin, up $20,264 (28%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 162 in Austin, down 4 points (2%).
Austin, TX
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 Austin and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
26% cheaper
St Paul rent is 26% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,729 in Austin, so St Paul is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $448/month back in your pocket ($5,376/year). Over five years that's $26,880 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 Austin, 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 Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
28% higher
Austin's median income is 28% higher than St Paul
Austin
Winner$93,658
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Austin (about $20,264 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, Austin 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
2% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 2% lower than St Paul
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Austin. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Austin, 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
Austin weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Austin sits near 68°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. Austin 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 28% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than St Paul (162 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 26% 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
Austin runs 68°F typical weather against 50°F in St Paul (comfort scores 100 vs 58). Housing is $1,729/month versus $1,281/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Austin still pays more locally ($93,658 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Austin rates.
Median income is $93,658 in Austin versus $73,394 in St Paul.
St Paul clears the bar on climate in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when you would rather tolerate 68°F than optimize for St Paul's comfort score.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and St Paul, plus other cities in TX and MN.
