City comparison
Yes. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 221 in Buffalo, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Buffalo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,046 a month versus $1,281 in St Paul.
The income gap between St Paul and Buffalo is significant: $73,394 median household versus $50,041. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,281 in St Paul and $1,046 in Buffalo.
St Paul is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Buffalo 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 rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Buffalo at $1,046 average has pockets that run $846 and others at $1,446: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
St Paul and Buffalo are 721 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,046 a month in Buffalo, down $235 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $50,041 in Buffalo, down $23,353 (32%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 221 in Buffalo, up 55 points (33%).
The move
Buffalo and St Paul are 721 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,046 a month in Buffalo to $1,281 a month in St Paul, up $235 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $50,041 in Buffalo to $73,394 in St Paul, up $23,353 (47%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Buffalo to 166 in St Paul, down 55 points (25%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Buffalo, NY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Buffalo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
18% cheaper
Buffalo rent is 18% cheaper than St Paul
St Paul
$1,281/mo
Buffalo
Winner$1,046/mo
Typical rent runs $1,046 a month in Buffalo versus $1,281 in St Paul, so Buffalo is 18% 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 $2,820, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Buffalo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in St Paul.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
47% higher
St Paul's median income is 47% higher than Buffalo
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Buffalo
$50,041
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $50,041 in Buffalo, so typical pay runs 47% higher in St Paul (about $23,353 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. Buffalo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
25% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 25% lower than Buffalo
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
Buffalo
221 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 221 in Buffalo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 25% 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. Buffalo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
St Paul weather is 5% more comfortable than Buffalo
St Paul
Winner50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Buffalo
49°F avg · 55°F highs · comfort 55/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Buffalo averages about 49°F (55°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Buffalo averages around 49°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. St Paul scores 5% 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 Buffalo 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 47% higher ($73,394), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 50°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
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 25% lower than Buffalo (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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Buffalo
Buffalo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 18% cheaper here at about $1,046 a month. Choose Buffalo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Pay is the headline: St Paul median income is $73,394 versus $50,041 in Buffalo (32% higher). Rent still runs $1,281/month in St Paul and $1,046/month in Buffalo, so the wage edge only helps if your offer matches St Paul rates.
St Paul still pays more locally ($73,394 median income vs $50,041), which can offset the lease if your field pays St Paul rates.
Typical rent stays $1,046 in Buffalo and $1,281 in St Paul.
If local pay drives your move, St Paul is the stronger match ($73,394 median income against $50,041). If an employer or family tie already points to Buffalo, treat $1,046/month rent and $50,041 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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