City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Raleigh and St Paul. Raleigh 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 $1,572 versus $1,281.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Paul makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Raleigh is the stronger move.
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
Raleigh and St Paul are 988 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $291 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $73,394 in St Paul, down $12,001 (14%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 166 in St Paul, up 24 points (17%).
The move
St Paul and Raleigh are 988 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $291 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $12,001 (16%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 142 in Raleigh, down 24 points (14%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
St Paul rent is 19% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,572 in Raleigh, 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 $3,492, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Raleigh's median income is 16% higher than St Paul
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Raleigh (about $12,001 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, Raleigh 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
14% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 14% lower than St Paul
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Paul. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
48% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 48% more comfortable than St Paul
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 16% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 14% lower than St Paul (142 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Paul
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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,572/month rent in Raleigh at 60°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $85,395 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Safety scores read 49/100 in Raleigh and 45/100 in St Paul.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Raleigh; St Paul only makes sense when 50°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
Ready to move to Raleigh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Raleigh when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and St Paul, plus other cities in NC and MN.
