City Comparison
Lakeville vs St. Paul
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lakeville scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lakeville
St. Paul
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
St. Paul is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in Lakeville.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lakeville's average rent is
65% higher than St. Paul's.
| Metric | Lakeville | St. Paul | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,405 | $1,459 | +65% |
| Groceries | $420 | $410 | +2% |
| Utilities | $185 | $175 | +6% |
| Transport | $125 | $110 | +14% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $3,375 | $2,394 | +41% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Lakeville offers 6% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lakeville delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Lakeville is estimated at
$62,000 vs $97,211 in St. Paul.
| Metric | Lakeville | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $73,394 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $97,211 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,222 idx | 69,899 idx |
| Household Income | $139,041 | $73,394 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Lakeville sees 0.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lakeville | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 46.60°F | 46.60°F |
| Summer High | 78.50°F | 79.30°F |
| Winter Low | 7.60°F | 7.20°F |
| Rainfall | 42.70 in | 40.00 in |
| Snowfall | 32.90 in | 32.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 257 | 256 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 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 | Lakeville | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 43.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
St. Paul is the larger city
— approximately 0.3x the population of Lakeville.
From a growth perspective, Lakeville is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lakeville has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lakeville | St. Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 79,270 | 306,684 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | — |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 33.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lakeville
Advantages
Median household income in Lakeville reaches approximately $139,041 per year per U.S. Census Bureau data.
The city boasts an exceptional safety profile with crime rates significantly below the national average.
Lakeville Area Schools (ISD 194) provide top-tier educational opportunities and high student achievement.
Abundant natural amenities include multiple lakes and over 60 parks with extensive recreational trails.
Strong local job growth and low unemployment rates support a stable and thriving local economy.
Drawbacks
Cost of living and home purchase prices exceed the national average, creating affordability hurdles.
High car dependency means limited public transit options for daily non-driving commuters.
Rental housing markets are competitive, with rising average rents across multi-family properties.
Winters feature prolonged sub-freezing temperatures and heavy seasonal snowfall management requirements.
Traffic congestion can peak during traditional rush hours along major thoroughfares like Interstate 35.
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.
Lakeville
#66Minnesota, USA
69.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,405
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
257/yr
Avg Temp
46.60°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
83
Business
76
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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