City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

St. Paul, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for St. Paul - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

307,762
Residents
$73,055
Median income
$280,300
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

St. Paul - the verdict

Nationally, St. Paul sits in the 54th percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

54th
percentile, household income
62nd
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
11th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: St. Paul, MN

Minnesota's St. Paul is a mid-sized U.S. city, with 307,762 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in St. Paul brings in $73,055 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.3%. Home values in St. Paul run a median of $280,300, and the median resident age is 33.5 years. 43.5% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 67.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 404 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 74% from five years earlier. St. Paul's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 3451.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: the state registers 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Near Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,709 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Minnesota's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). The average commute for St. Paul workers runs 18.2 minutes, with 59.3% driving alone and 18.3% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 94.6 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

307,762 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$73,055 /yr

Poverty 11.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does St. Paul compare to other US cities?

Here's how St. Paul stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 54% higher than other cities
Home value 62% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Minnesota and the picture shifts: St. Paul ranks #221 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares St. Paul against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Minnesota only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Minnesota-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places St. Paul toward the top of Minnesota's cities

Among the 784 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, St. Paul ranks #84 - the 89th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares St. Paul only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#324 of 775
58th percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 785
77th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#178 of 774
77th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#158 of 785
80th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#84 of 784
89th percentile in Minnesota

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Minnesota only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

54thIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

54th percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

St. Paul's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

St. Paul's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 33 Avg. percentile National median
St. Paul's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How St. Paul's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$280,300 38th percentile more affordable than 38% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. St. Paul $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - St. Paul, MN St. Paul, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not St. Paul, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution St. Paul, MN median $73,055/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
St. Paul, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for St. Paul, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 67.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
307,762
Median Income
$73,055
Median Home Value
$280,300
Median Age
33.5
Poverty Rate
11.3%
Labor force participation
67.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3451.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
617.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2834.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
304,000 residents306,000 residents308,000 residents310,000 residents312,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 311,156 residents 306,684 residents ▼ -1.4%
St. Paul's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
404
housing units authorized
Single-Family
75
detached homes
Multifamily
329
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,575
2020 2,077
2021 2,120
2022 1,169
2023 1,204
2024 404

Permit volume decreased 74% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.2 minutes
Drive Alone
59.3%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
6.5%
Walk
3.7%
Work from Home
18.3%
Other
2.2%

Based on 159,623 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county St. Paul sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
94.6 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Minneapolis
426,845 people
Rochester
121,638 people
Bloomington
88,838 people
Duluth
86,863 people
Brooklyn Park
84,349 people
Plymouth
79,526 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to St. Paul's 307,762 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Irvine, CA
308,160 people
Newark, NJ
307,188 people
Cincinnati, OH
309,595 people
Santa Ana, CA
311,639 people
Orlando, FL
311,732 people
Pittsburgh, PA
303,620 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to St. Paul's $73,055 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Malcom, IA
$73,056 median income
Lake Dunlap, TX
$73,056 median income
Luxemburg, WI
$73,056 median income
Vermilion, OH
$73,052 median income
Midvale, UT
$73,058 median income
Elkhorn, WI
$73,052 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - St. Paul, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition St. Paul, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 53.2% 16.2% 17.9% 8.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.1% White 53.2% Black or African American 16.2% Asian 17.9% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.5% Two or more races 8.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How St. Paul compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
St. Paul (this city) 307,762 $73,055
Minneapolis 426,845 $80,269
Rochester 121,638 $87,767
Bloomington 88,838 $90,677
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about St. Paul, MN?

What is the population of St. Paul, MN? +

St. Paul, MN counts 307,762 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in St. Paul, MN? +

The median household income in St. Paul is $73,055 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in St. Paul? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for St. Paul; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is St. Paul, MN safe? +

St. Paul has a total crime rate of 3451.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in St. Paul, MN? +

St. Paul's median home value sits at $280,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.