City comparison
No. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 166 in St Paul, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 160, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Plano. St Paul averages 50°F while Plano averages 65°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,841.
Plano 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 Plano 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 Plano are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $560 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $112,253 in Plano, up $38,859 (53%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 62 in Plano, down 104 points (63%).
The move
Plano and St Paul are 846 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $560 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $73,394 in St Paul, down $38,859 (35%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 166 in St Paul, up 104 points (168%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Plano, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
St Paul rent is 30% cheaper than Plano
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Plano
$1,841/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,841 in Plano, so St Paul is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $560/month back in your pocket ($6,720/year). Over five years that's $33,600 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
53% higher
Plano's median income is 53% higher than St Paul
St Paul
$73,394
Plano
Winner$112,253
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $73,394 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 53% higher in Plano (about $38,859 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, Plano 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
63% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 63% lower than St Paul
St Paul
166 (100 = avg)
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 166 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 63% lower in Plano. 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, Plano 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
Plano weather is 72% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Plano
Winner65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Plano sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Plano 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 30% 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 53% higher ($112,253), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 65°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 63% lower than St Paul (62 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Plano: Plano scores 75/100 versus 45/100 in St Paul, with typical rent at $1,841 versus $1,281. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Paul before trading 30 safety points for housing savings.
St Paul rent at $1,281/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,841 in Plano.
Plano 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
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Nearby research
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