City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Safety is where Louisville and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 43 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,120 in Louisville and $1,281 in St Paul.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Louisville 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 crime gap is citywide. St Paul has rougher pockets and Louisville has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Louisville and St Paul are 597 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $161 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $73,394 in St Paul, up $6,545 (10%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 166 in St Paul, down 43 points (21%).
The move
St Paul and Louisville are 597 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $161 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $66,849 in Louisville, down $6,545 (9%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 209 in Louisville, up 43 points (26%).
Louisville, KY
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 Louisville and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Louisville rent is 13% cheaper than St Paul
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Louisville is 13% 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 $1,932, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Louisville 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 Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
St Paul's median income is 10% higher than Louisville
Louisville
$66,849
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 10% higher in St Paul (about $6,545 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
21% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 21% lower than Louisville
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. Louisville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
29% more comfortable
Louisville weather is 29% more comfortable than St Paul
Louisville
Winner56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Louisville averages around 56°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. Louisville scores 29% 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
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Louisville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (56°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 29%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Louisville 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 10% 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 21% lower than Louisville (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Louisville at $1,120/month versus $1,281 in St Paul ($161 apart). St Paul median income is $73,394 against $66,849 in Louisville, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Louisville rent at $1,120/month is still below St Paul's $1,281, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 56°F in Louisville and 50°F in St Paul.
Pick Louisville when shaving $161 off rent at $1,120/month is the priority. Otherwise, St Paul's case rests on $1,281/month rent with $73,394 local income.
With rent only $161 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($66,849 vs $73,394) and safety (38/100 vs 45/100) break the tie.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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