City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,361 in Houston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Houston and St Paul. Houston averages 70°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 $1,361 versus $1,281.
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. Houston 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 Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and St Paul are 1,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $80 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $73,394 in St Paul, up $8,581 (13%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 166 in St Paul, down 104 points (39%).
The move
St Paul and Houston are 1,056 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,361 a month in Houston, up $80 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $64,813 in Houston, down $8,581 (12%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 270 in Houston, up 104 points (63%).
Houston, 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 Houston and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
6% cheaper
St Paul rent is 6% cheaper than Houston
Houston
$1,361/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,361 in Houston, so St Paul is 6% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $80, or $960 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
13% higher
St Paul's median income is 13% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 13% higher in St Paul (about $8,581 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. Houston 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 Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 270 in Houston (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. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Houston weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Houston
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Houston sits near 70°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. Houston 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Houston if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 72%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Houston 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 6% 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 13% 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 39% lower than Houston (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
Houston carries the heavier crime signal on this page (30/100 safety vs 45/100 in St Paul). That 15-point spread matters more than the $80 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Paul vs 30/100 in Houston), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $64,813 in Houston.
St Paul clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Houston deserves a serious look only when you already know the Houston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Houston and St Paul, plus other cities in TX and MN.
