City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 172 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,281 in St Paul.
St Paul is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone St Paul is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. St Paul has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and St Paul are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $50 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $73,394 in St Paul, up $11,217 (18%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 166 in St Paul, down 172 points (51%).
The move
St Paul and Baltimore are 928 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $50 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $11,217 (15%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 338 in Baltimore, up 172 points (104%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
St Paul rent is 4% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so St Paul is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $50, or $600 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
St Paul's median income is 18% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 18% higher in St Paul (about $11,217 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, St Paul is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
51% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 51% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% lower in St Paul. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, St Paul is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
24% more comfortable
Baltimore weather is 24% more comfortable than St Paul
Baltimore
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore scores 24% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 24%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 18% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
St Paul is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Baltimore (166 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.
Bottom line
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 45/100 in St Paul). That 22-point spread matters more than the $50 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Paul vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 55°F in Baltimore and 50°F in St Paul.
Pick St Paul when you want the stronger safety signal (45/100). Otherwise, Baltimore's case rests on a Baltimore ZIP you trust at $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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