City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 105 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Denver 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. 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
Denver and St Paul are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $550 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $73,394 in St Paul, down $21,324 (23%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 166 in St Paul, down 105 points (39%).
The move
St Paul and Denver are 705 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $550 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $94,718 in Denver, up $21,324 (29%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 271 in Denver, up 105 points (63%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
St Paul rent is 30% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,831 in Denver, so St Paul is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $550/month back in your pocket ($6,600/year). Over five years that's $33,000 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 Denver, 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 St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Denver's median income is 29% higher than St Paul
Denver
Winner$94,718
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Denver (about $21,324 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, Denver 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
39% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 39% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
34% more comfortable
Denver weather is 34% more comfortable than St Paul
Denver
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Denver averages about 57°F (66°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Denver averages around 57°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. Denver scores 34% 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 29% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 57°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Denver (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,281/month in St Paul versus $1,831 in Denver. Median income reads $73,394 in St Paul and $94,718 in Denver, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
St Paul rent at $1,281/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $73,394 in St Paul.
St Paul clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when your $94,718 income offer in Denver outweighs saving $550/month in St Paul.
Common questions
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