16 Pros and Cons of Living in St. Paul, MN

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St. Paul, MN, also known as the “twin cities”, is a beloved hometown for many who live here.

It’s full of culture, job opportunities, and tradition. It’s a large city, located in a state that borders Canada.

In fact, St. Paul is the second-largest city in the state of Minnesota.

If you’re considering moving here, it’s essential that you adjust to not only the pros but the cons as well.

There isn’t a city that exists that is 100 percent perfect.

This guide will provide you with everything you need to know to help you determine whether St. Paul is an ideal city for you.

Pros of Living in St. Paul, MN

First, let’s discuss some of the benefits of living in St. Paul, MN.

1. Plenty of Job Opportunities

If you’re prepared to call St. Paul your home, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of job openings available here.

It’s not challenging to find a good job. In fact, the twin cities have about 17 Fortune 500 companies located in town.

Additionally, there are several other companies located in the state alone, as corporate offices.

Some of the most common companies in St. Paul are Lawson Software, 3M, Allina Health, and Ecolab.

2. Great for Foodies

Finding your fair share of good food in St. Paul isn’t going to be hard.

It’s big on Swedish dishes and is full of many other diverse options.

So, if you consider yourself a big foodie, you are going to enjoy everything that St. Paul has to offer.

If you choose to relocate to St. Paul, here’s a list of some of the must-try restaurants:

• Handsome Hog
• Union Hmong Kitchen
• Saint Dinette
• The Lexington
• Conny’s Creamy Cone

3. Perfect for Outdoor Adventures

If you and your family enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors, St. Paul has a lot to offer.

St. Paul is full of lavish landscapes that are perfect for hiking, biking, and enjoying the water.

There are also plenty of beautiful parks in St. Paul.

Families frequently visit Como Zoo and Como Town amusement parks during the warmer months.

Unless it’s cold here, you will never run out of things to do.

4. Affordable Living

St. Paul is entirely affordable. In fact, it’s 2% lower than the national average.

Even though the cost of groceries and transportation are slightly higher, living expenses are much lower than the rest of the state.

For instance, you can purchase a home anywhere between $130,000 and up.

Luxury homes here can cost over a million dollars, depending on the neighborhood.

One bedroom in St. Paul can cost you anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500 each month in rent.

5. Bustling Nightlife Scene/h3>
If living in a town that has a great nightlife scene is important to you, St. Paul is a winner.

Downtown St. Paul has several options.

Here you will find plenty of full bars, lounges, lively crowds, comedy, trivia, and open-mic nights.

There are also excellent restaurants throughout St. Paul.

Additionally, the Midway neighborhood has a great nightlife scene as it has bars, music venues, and much more.

6. Nice Climate Throughout the Year

Residents of St. Paul have the luxury of experiencing all four seasons.

During the summer, things can get pretty warm here.

The warmest temperatures occur between May and October.

Average temperatures throughout these months can reach over 70 degrees.

St. Paul also experiences some cold winters.

This can be a plus for many who enjoy outdoor winter sports.

The coldest months are between November and March.

On average, they can see close to 30 inches of snow throughout the season.

7. Public Transportation

There are many options for public transit in St. Paul.

This is a huge plus, being that it’s a pretty big city.

It’s a walkable city with plenty of options for buses and biking.

You don’t have to always depend on a vehicle while living in St. Paul.

Additionally, St. Paul has train routes.

The Metro Green Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This allows residents living here to get around the city with ease.

8. Excellent Public School System

There are just over 35,000 students that make up the 67 public schools in St. Paul, MN.

St. Paul has the second-largest school district in the entire state.

There are nearly 48 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and plenty of high schools.

There are various programs, including extended day programs for elementary-aged students who need more assistance.

St. Paul also has its fair share of private schools and universities.

Cons of Living in St. Paul, MN

Now, let’s take a look at some of the cons of living in St. Paul, MN.

1. High Crime Rate

The crime rate in St. Paul, MN is higher than the national average.

It is in the 2nd percentile for safety.

This means that there are 98% of other cities in the country that are much safer than St. Paul.

Only 2% of cities are more dangerous.

The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime in St. Paul is 10.56 per 1,000.

If you have children and want to raise them in a safe neighborhood, you may want to reconsider moving here.

2. Low Income Levels

You may be in an uphill battle to make good money while living in St. Paul.

The median income in St. Paul, MN is significantly lower than the national average.

If you envision becoming wealthy, you may want to think twice about moving to St. Paul.

The median income for individuals living in St. Paul, MN is only $31,435.

For households, the median income is $59,717.

3. Vintage Homes

Vintage homes may or may not be an issue for you.

But, if you’re looking for a town that gives you city vibes, you will see more old homes versus modern homes in St. Paul.

St. Paul has rough terrain which makes it difficult to build new homes here.

This is one of the main reasons why residents choose to live in antique homes that are well-made.

4. Traffic

Every city is different when it comes to transit. St. Paul, unfortunately, does not have good transit mainly because of the population.

However, when you compare traffic in St. Paul to other cities such as New York and Los Angeles, it isn’t all that terrible.

But, if you are not used to dealing with any amount of traffic while commuting to and from work, this is something you should think about.

5. Freezing Temperatures in Winter

The freezing temperatures that St. Paul sees during the winter shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Between November and April, temperatures barely climb above 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

In April, the highs are still considered low, with average temperatures around 47 degrees Fahrenheit.

Besides the freezing temps, St. Paul deals with a lot of snow.

So, if you’re not into snow, moving to St. Paul could be a huge mistake considering it doesn’t melt until late April into May.

6. High Tax Rates

Tax rates are significantly high in St. Paul.

This goes for both property and sales taxes.

The national average sales tax rate is 6.875%.

In St. Paul, the sales tax rate is 7.88%.

However, this isn’t as high compared to other cities in the country such as Tacoma, Washington, where the sales tax is 10.3%.

But, either way, the high sales tax in St. Paul could result in residents paying a lot more in taxes every year.

7. Lacks Diversity

For many, a lack of diversity is a major reason to avoid moving to a certain town.

Unfortunately, this is the case with St. Paul, MN.

The city isn’t as diverse compared to other major cities.

The majority of people living in St. Paul are white.

Furthermore, there are a lot of Asians that live in St. Paul.

In fact, the Asian population here is three times higher than the national average.

8. Summer Mosquitos

Everyone awaits the warmer weather when they are finally able to go outside and enjoy what nature has to offer.

However, mosquitos can be a huge problem during the late spring and summer months.

If you’re thinking about moving here, be sure that you have a lot of bug spray with you if you plan on being outside during the evening.

Pros and Cons of Living in St. Paul, MN – Summary Table

St. Paul Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: St. Paul Safety Review

Safety Index:

64

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW