City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Portland and St Paul. Portland averages 60°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 $1,655 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Portland 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
Portland and St Paul are 1,432 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $374 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $73,394 in St Paul, down $17,525 (19%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 166 in St Paul, down 99 points (37%).
The move
St Paul and Portland are 1,432 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $374 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $90,919 in Portland, up $17,525 (24%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 265 in Portland, up 99 points (60%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
St Paul rent is 23% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,655 in Portland, so St Paul is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $374/month back in your pocket ($4,488/year). Over five years that's $22,440 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Portland, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Portland's median income is 24% higher than St Paul
Portland
Winner$90,919
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Portland (about $17,525 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, Portland is the stronger labor market on paper. St Paul can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
37% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 37% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
48% more comfortable
Portland weather is 48% more comfortable than St Paul
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 48% 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 24% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 23% 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 37% lower than Portland (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 30/100 in Portland. Rent is $1,281/month in St Paul and $1,655/month in Portland, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Portland still pays more locally ($90,919 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Portland rates.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Portland and 50°F in St Paul.
Between Portland and St Paul, St Paul is ahead on safety — 45/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Portland instead when you already know the Portland block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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