City comparison
Yes. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Durham. St Paul averages 50°F while Durham averages 59°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,508.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. St Paul costs less and Durham 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit St Paul in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
St Paul and Durham are 967 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $227 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $81,619 in Durham, up $8,225 (11%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 193 in Durham, up 27 points (16%).
The move
Durham and St Paul are 967 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $227 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $73,394 in St Paul, down $8,225 (10%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 166 in St Paul, down 27 points (14%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
St Paul rent is 15% cheaper than Durham
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,508 in Durham, so St Paul is 15% 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 $2,724, 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 Durham.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Durham's median income is 11% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Durham (about $8,225 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, Durham 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
St Paul's crime index is 14% lower than Durham
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 14% 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 Durham. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
43% more comfortable
Durham weather is 43% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Durham
Winner59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Durham scores 43% 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
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 15% 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 14% lower than Durham (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
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 11% higher ($81,619), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 59°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
St Paul (50°F) and Durham (59°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 9°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,281 vs $1,508) and pay ($73,394 vs $81,619) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Safety scores read 45/100 in St Paul and 40/100 in Durham.
If climate drives your move, St Paul is the stronger match (50°F typical weather versus 59°F). If an employer or family tie already points to Durham, treat $1,508/month rent and $81,619 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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