City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and St Paul split most clearly. St Paul scores 95 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,281 in St Paul.
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. Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and St Paul are 974 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $116 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $73,394 in St Paul, up $11,441 (18%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 166 in St Paul, down 95 points (36%).
The move
St Paul and Philadelphia are 974 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $116 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $11,441 (16%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 261 in Philadelphia, up 95 points (57%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
St Paul rent is 8% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so St Paul is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $116, or $1,392 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
18% higher
St Paul's median income is 18% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 18% higher in St Paul (about $11,441 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 36% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 19% more comfortable than St Paul
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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. Philadelphia scores 19% 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 Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 19%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia 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 8% 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 18% 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 36% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia, with typical rent at $1,281 versus $1,397. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 14 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (45/100 in St Paul vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 50°F in St Paul.
St Paul clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Philadelphia deserves a serious look only when you already know the Philadelphia block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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