City comparison
No. Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 37 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $2,110 in Gilbert.
Safety is where St Paul and Gilbert split most clearly. Gilbert scores 119 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,281 in St Paul and $2,110 in Gilbert.
Gilbert 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 Gilbert 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
St Paul and Gilbert are 1,277 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $2,110 a month in Gilbert, up $829 a month (65%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $122,551 in Gilbert, up $49,157 (67%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 47 in Gilbert, down 119 points (72%).
The move
Gilbert and St Paul are 1,277 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,110 a month in Gilbert to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $829 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $122,551 in Gilbert to $73,394 in St Paul, down $49,157 (40%).
The crime index goes from 47 in Gilbert to 166 in St Paul, up 119 points (253%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Gilbert, AZ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
39% cheaper
St Paul rent is 39% cheaper than Gilbert
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Gilbert
$2,110/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $2,110 in Gilbert, so St Paul is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $829/month back in your pocket ($9,948/year). Over five years that's $49,740 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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
67% higher
Gilbert's median income is 67% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Gilbert
Winner$122,551
Median household income is $122,551 in Gilbert versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 67% higher in Gilbert (about $49,157 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, Gilbert 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
72% lower crime
Gilbert's crime index is 72% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Gilbert
Winner47 (100 = avg)
Gilbert's crime index is 47 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% lower in Gilbert. 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, Gilbert is the easier city. St Paul can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Gilbert weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 58/100
Gilbert
Winner80°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (58°F highs); Gilbert averages about 80°F (87°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Gilbert sits near 80°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Gilbert 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
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 39% 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.
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 67% higher ($122,551), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 80°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Gilbert is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 72% lower than St Paul (47 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
St Paul carries the heavier crime signal on this page (45/100 safety vs 83/100 in Gilbert). That 38-point spread matters more than the $829 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Gilbert still pays more locally ($122,551 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Gilbert rates.
Weather averages land near 50°F in St Paul and 80°F in Gilbert.
Gilbert clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Paul deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Paul block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Gilbert?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Gilbert when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Paul and Gilbert, plus other cities in MN and AZ.
