City comparison
No. Irving's crime index is 99 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 78 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,619 in Irving.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Irving. St Paul averages 50°F while Irving averages 70°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,619.
Irving 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 Irving 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 Irving are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,619 a month in Irving, up $338 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $81,830 in Irving, up $8,436 (11%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 99 in Irving, down 67 points (40%).
The move
Irving and St Paul are 863 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,619 a month in Irving to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $338 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $81,830 in Irving to $73,394 in St Paul, down $8,436 (10%).
The crime index goes from 99 in Irving to 166 in St Paul, up 67 points (68%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Irving, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
St Paul rent is 21% cheaper than Irving
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Irving
$1,619/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,619 in Irving, so St Paul is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $338/month back in your pocket ($4,056/year). Over five years that's $20,280 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 Irving, 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 Irving? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
11% higher
Irving's median income is 11% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Irving
Winner$81,830
Median household income is $81,830 in Irving versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 11% higher in Irving (about $8,436 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, Irving 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
40% lower crime
Irving's crime index is 40% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Irving
Winner99 (100 = avg)
Irving's crime index is 99 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% lower in Irving. 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, Irving 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
Irving weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Irving
Winner70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Irving averages about 70°F (78°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Irving sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Irving 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 21% 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 11% higher ($81,830), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 70°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 40% lower than St Paul (99 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
On weather alone, Irving is the warmer market (70°F) and St Paul the cooler (50°F). Typical leases run $1,619 and $1,281; choose the climate you will tolerate year-round, not just on a visit weekend.
Irving still pays more locally ($81,830 median income vs $73,394), which can offset the lease if your field pays Irving rates.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,619 in Irving.
Irving wins on climate (70°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
Ready to move to Irving?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Irving when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Paul and Irving, plus other cities in MN and TX.
