City comparison
No. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Sacramento and St Paul. Sacramento averages 71°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 $1,779 versus $1,281.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Sacramento 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
Sacramento and St Paul are 1,519 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $498 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $73,394 in St Paul, down $13,927 (16%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 166 in St Paul, down 15 points (8%).
The move
St Paul and Sacramento are 1,519 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $498 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $13,927 (19%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 181 in Sacramento, up 15 points (9%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
St Paul rent is 28% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so St Paul is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $498/month back in your pocket ($5,976/year). Over five years that's $29,880 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 Sacramento, 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
19% higher
Sacramento's median income is 19% higher than St Paul
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
St Paul
$73,394
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 19% higher in Sacramento (about $13,927 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, Sacramento 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
8% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 8% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 8% lower in St Paul. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in St Paul, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Sacramento. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Sacramento weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
Sacramento
Winner71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°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. Sacramento 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
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 19% higher ($87,321), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 71°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 28% 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 8% lower than Sacramento (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,779/month rent in Sacramento at 71°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $87,321 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Sacramento still pays more locally ($87,321 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Sacramento rates.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $73,394 in St Paul.
Sacramento wins on climate (71°F vs 50°F); St Paul is the better fit if $1,281 rent and $73,394 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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