City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Nashville and St Paul. Nashville averages 59°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 $1,586 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Nashville 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
Nashville and St Paul are 691 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $305 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $73,394 in St Paul, down $3,977 (5%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 166 in St Paul, down 116 points (41%).
The move
St Paul and Nashville are 691 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $305 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $77,371 in Nashville, up $3,977 (5%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 282 in Nashville, up 116 points (70%).
Nashville, 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 Nashville and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
St Paul rent is 19% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,586 in Nashville, so St Paul is 19% 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 $3,660, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. St Paul still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Nashville.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Nashville's median income is 5% higher than St Paul
Nashville
Winner$77,371
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Nashville (about $3,977 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
41% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 41% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 41% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
43% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 43% more comfortable than St Paul
Nashville
Winner59°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Nashville averages about 59°F (69°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Nashville averages around 59°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. Nashville scores 43% 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 5% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°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 19% 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 41% lower than Nashville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward St Paul: St Paul scores 45/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville, with typical rent at $1,281 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Nashville and 50°F in St Paul.
Pick St Paul when you want the stronger safety signal (45/100). Otherwise, Nashville's case rests on a Nashville ZIP you trust at $1,586 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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