Boston, MA vs St. Paul, MN
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Boston
66.2
#1568 nationally
St. Paul
66.9
#1493 nationally
St. Paul leads in cost of living index (105 vs 155). St. Paul leads in average commute (23.1 min vs 30.2 min). Boston leads in median household income ($81,744 vs $69,919).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Boston, MA | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.2 (#1568) | 66.9 (#1493) |
| Population | 684,379 | 303,820 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $787,763 | $299,582 |
| Median Household Income | $81,744 | $69,919 |
| Average Commute | 30.2 min | 23.1 min |
| Walk Score | 83 | N/A |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 16.9 |
| School Rating | 7.2 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 155 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+52.5 | D+12.9 |
Data coverage note: St. Paul is missing data for 1 metric that Boston has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
D
66.2 Score
Boston, MA
Innovation hub with historic charm
Median Home
$787,763
Population
684,379
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B
Northeast
View Boston, MA →
D
66.9 Score
St. Paul, MN
Growing Minnesota city with expanding opportunities
Median Home
$299,582
Population
303,820
Crime
High
Median Income
$69,919
Midwest
View St. Paul, MN →