City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where Cleveland and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 175 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland costs less and St Paul pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and St Paul are 621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $221 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $73,394 in St Paul, up $8,926 (14%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 166 in St Paul, down 175 points (51%).
The move
St Paul and Cleveland are 621 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $221 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $8,926 (12%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 341 in Cleveland, up 175 points (105%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 17% cheaper than St Paul
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Cleveland is 17% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,652, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in St Paul.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
St Paul's median income is 14% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 14% higher in St Paul (about $8,926 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 341 in Cleveland (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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
14% more comfortable
Cleveland weather is 14% more comfortable than St Paul
Cleveland
Winner53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Cleveland averages around 53°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. Cleveland scores 14% 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
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Cleveland if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (53°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 14%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Cleveland 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% 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 Cleveland (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
Safety is the widest gap: St Paul scores 45/100 versus 23/100 in Cleveland. Rent is $1,281/month in St Paul and $1,060/month in Cleveland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
St Paul still pays more locally ($73,394 median income vs $64,468), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Paul rates.
Median income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
St Paul is ahead on safety (45/100 vs 23/100); Cleveland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,060/month rent plus $64,468 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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