City Comparison
Edina vs St. Louis Park
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
St. Louis Park scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Edina
St. Louis Park
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
St. Louis Park is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
4% lower than in Edina.
| Metric | Edina | St. Louis Park | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,650 | +6% |
| Groceries | $420 | $420 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $220 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $2,695 | $2,575 | +5% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 108 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 11% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Louis Park delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Edina is estimated at
$65,000 vs $58,000 in St. Louis Park.
| Metric | Edina | St. Louis Park |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $74,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,600 idx | 68,519 idx |
| Household Income | $128,500 | $88,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.2°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — St. Louis Park sees 0.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Edina | St. Louis Park |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.10°F | 46.90°F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | 79.70°F |
| Winter Low | 7.70°F | 7.40°F |
| Rainfall | 41.70 in | 41.70 in |
| Snowfall | 30.50 in | 31.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 | 258 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
St. Louis Park scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, St. Louis Park leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Edina | St. Louis Park |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 46.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 68.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Edina is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of St. Louis Park.
From a growth perspective, St. Louis Park is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Edina | St. Louis Park |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,285 | 50,138 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 38.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Edina
Advantages
Edina Public Schools consistently rank among the top school districts in the state of Minnesota per Niche and state testing data.
Crime rates in Edina are significantly below the national average, making it one of the safest municipalities in the Midwest per FBI crime reports.
The city features over 1,500 acres of parkland and public spaces, including the premier Centennial Lakes Park per the Edina Parks and Recreation Department.
Strategic location offers a commute of under 20 minutes to downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport per U.S. Census Bureau data.
Home to iconic regional shopping and dining destinations like 50th & France and Southdale Center per local municipal economic reports.
Drawbacks
Median home purchase prices and rental rates are considerably higher than the national and state averages per Zillow housing market data.
Property tax rates in Edina reflect high municipal service levels, adding to the overall cost of homeownership per Hennepin County tax records.
The local housing market is highly competitive with limited inventory for first-time homebuyers per recent real estate market summaries.
High reliance on automobiles for daily transit outside of immediate commercial nodes per regional transportation studies.
Strict municipal zoning and architectural codes can increase renovation and building costs for homeowners per Edina city planning documents.
St. Louis Park
Advantages
Exceptional proximity to downtown Minneapolis, offering a rapid commute via major transit and highway corridors.
Home to Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, providing world-class healthcare access directly within city limits.
Over 50 meticulously maintained parks and extensive regional bike trail connections like the Cedar Lake Trail.
Thriving commercial and entertainment hubs like the Shops at West End with diverse dining and retail options.
Consistently high-performing public school district that continually draws families to the area.
Drawbacks
Housing costs and property taxes are noticeably higher than the national U.S. average.
Cold, harsh winter weather featuring significant snowfall accumulation typical of the Upper Midwest.
Increasing traffic congestion along major commuter arteries like Highway 100 and I-394 during peak hours.
Competitive real estate market with limited suburban housing inventory driving up purchase prices.
Property crime rates, particularly catalytic converter thefts and vehicle break-ins, align with urban-suburban metro patterns.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Edina
#238Minnesota, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$82,000
Cost Index
125
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
46.0/100
Walkability
53.0/100
Sunny Days
260/yr
Avg Temp
47.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
91
Business
78
St. Louis Park
#225Minnesota, USA
63.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$74,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
258/yr
Avg Temp
46.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
82
Business
72
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