City comparison
Yes. St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 169 in Richmond, and its violent crime index is 160 versus 122, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Paul is cheaper. Median rent is $1,281 a month versus $1,372 in Richmond.
Climate is the sharpest divide between St Paul and Richmond. St Paul averages 50°F while Richmond averages 57°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,281 versus $1,372.
St Paul is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Richmond 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.
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 Richmond are 957 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,281 a month in St Paul to $1,372 a month in Richmond, up $91 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $73,394 in St Paul to $64,587 in Richmond, down $8,807 (12%).
The crime index goes from 166 in St Paul to 169 in Richmond, up 3 points (2%).
The move
Richmond and St Paul are 957 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,372 a month in Richmond to $1,281 a month in St Paul, down $91 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $64,587 in Richmond to $73,394 in St Paul, up $8,807 (14%).
The crime index goes from 169 in Richmond to 166 in St Paul, down 3 points (2%).
St Paul, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Richmond, VA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing St Paul and Richmond? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
St Paul rent is 7% cheaper than Richmond
St Paul
Winner$1,281/mo
Richmond
$1,372/mo
Typical rent runs $1,281 a month in St Paul versus $1,372 in Richmond, so St Paul is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $91, or $1,092 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in St Paul? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
14% higher
St Paul's median income is 14% higher than Richmond
St Paul
Winner$73,394
Richmond
$64,587
Median household income is $73,394 in St Paul versus $64,587 in Richmond, so typical pay runs 14% higher in St Paul (about $8,807 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. Richmond can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
2% lower crime
St Paul's crime index is 2% lower than Richmond
St Paul
Winner166 (100 = avg)
Richmond
169 (100 = avg)
St Paul's crime index is 166 versus 169 in Richmond (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% 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 Richmond. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
34% more comfortable
Richmond weather is 34% more comfortable than St Paul
St Paul
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Richmond
Winner57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
St Paul averages about 50°F (57°F highs); Richmond averages about 57°F (66°F highs). St Paul averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Richmond scores 34% 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 14% higher here ($73,394). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
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 2% lower than Richmond (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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Richmond if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (57°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 34%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Richmond is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,372/month rent in Richmond at 57°F versus $1,281 in St Paul at 50°F. Income runs $64,587 vs $73,394, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $91 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,281 in St Paul and $1,372 in Richmond.
Richmond wins on climate (57°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
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for St Paul and Richmond, plus other cities in MN and VA.
