City Comparison
Edina vs St. Paul
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Edina scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Edina
St. Paul
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
St. Paul is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Edina.
Housing costs are a major driver: Edina's average rent is
20% higher than St. Paul's.
| Metric | Edina | St. Paul | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,459 | +20% |
| Groceries | $420 | $410 | +2% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $110 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,695 | $2,394 | +13% |
| Cost Index | 125 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Edina offers 12% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, St. Paul delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Edina is estimated at
$65,000 vs $97,211 in St. Paul.
| Metric | Edina | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $82,000 | $73,394 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $97,211 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,600 idx | 69,899 idx |
| Household Income | $128,500 | $73,394 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — St. Paul sees 1.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Edina | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 47.10°F | 46.60°F |
| Summer High | 80.00°F | 79.30°F |
| Winter Low | 7.70°F | 7.20°F |
| Rainfall | 41.70 in | 40.00 in |
| Snowfall | 30.50 in | 32.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 260 | 256 |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
St. Paul scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, St. Paul leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Edina | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 46.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 53.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 43.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Paul is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Edina.
From a growth perspective, Edina is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Edina has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Edina | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 53,285 | 306,684 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | — |
| Median Age | 44.2 | 33.7 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.60% |
| 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. Paul
Advantages
Median home value of $294,500 sits approximately 11% below the U.S. national average per Census Bureau data.
Extensive park system featuring Como Park, more than 100 public parks, and extensive Mississippi River shoreline access.
Thriving higher education presence with esteemed institutions like Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas.
Rich cultural infrastructure, including the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and world-class museums.
Robust public transit connectivity via the METRO Green Line light rail linking directly to downtown Minneapolis.
Drawbacks
Rigorous winter climate brings heavy seasonal snowfalls and prolonged sub-freezing temperatures.
Overall cost of living tracks roughly 4.8% above the national average driven by regional housing and tax structures.
State and local income tax burdens rank higher than the national median.
Property crime rates in specific commercial zones exceed national suburban medians.
Poverty rates in select urban core neighborhoods remain higher than state averages.
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. Paul
#523Minnesota, USA
50.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,459
Avg Salary
$73,394
Cost Index
105
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
256/yr
Avg Temp
46.60°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
77
Business
71
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