City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Memphis and St Paul. Memphis averages 68°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 $1,181 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Memphis 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 Memphis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Memphis and St Paul are 696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $100 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $73,394 in St Paul, up $21,658 (42%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 166 in St Paul, down 329 points (66%).
The move
St Paul and Memphis are 696 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $100 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $51,736 in Memphis, down $21,658 (30%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 495 in Memphis, up 329 points (198%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Memphis rent is 8% cheaper than St Paul
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Memphis is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $100, or $1,200 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 Memphis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
St Paul's median income is 42% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 42% higher in St Paul (about $21,658 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
66% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 66% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Memphis weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Memphis
Winner68°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Memphis averages about 68°F (78°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Memphis sits near 68°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. Memphis 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
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Memphis if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (68°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 72%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Memphis 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 42% 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 66% lower than Memphis (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 11/100 in Memphis. Rent is $1,281/month in St Paul and $1,181/month in Memphis, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Paul vs 11/100 in Memphis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $51,736 in Memphis.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in St Paul; Memphis only makes sense when you have walked the Memphis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,181 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Memphis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Memphis and St Paul, plus other cities in TN and MN.
