Is Jacksonville cheaper than St Paul?

No. St Paul is cheaper: typical rent is $1,232 a month versus $1,658 in Jacksonville — 26% lower. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $72,400 in St Paul, so St Paul has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Jacksonville or St Paul?

Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 78 in St Paul — 12% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Jacksonville or St Paul?

School composites are close: A- in Jacksonville and A- in St Paul. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Jacksonville, FL vs St Paul, MN

Jacksonville, FL versus St Paul, MN is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,658 a month in Jacksonville and $1,232 in St Paul, and median household income lands at $64,138 versus $72,400. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Jacksonville takes safety and weather, while St Paul takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is rent, where St Paul leads by 26% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Jacksonville can feel further apart than Jacksonville and St Paul do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Jacksonville and St Paul reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Jacksonville report Full St Paul report

Jacksonville, FL

Rent: $1,658/mo
Median income: $64,138
Crime index: 69
Schools: A-
Weather: 87°F

St Paul, MN

Rent: $1,232/mo
Median income: $72,400
Crime index: 78
Schools: A-
Weather: —

Rent

26% cheaper

St Paul rent is 26% cheaper than Jacksonville

Jacksonville

$1,658/mo

St Paul

Winner

$1,232/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,232 a month in St Paul versus $1,658 in Jacksonville, so St Paul is 26% cheaper. That's roughly $426/month back in your pocket — $5,112/year. Over five years that's $25,560 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Jacksonville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, St Paul is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

13% higher

St Paul's median income is 13% higher than Jacksonville

Jacksonville

$64,138

St Paul

Winner

$72,400

What this means for your life

Median household income is $72,400 in St Paul versus $64,138 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 13% higher in St Paul — about $8,262 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, St Paul is the stronger labor market on paper. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

12% lower crime

Jacksonville's crime index is 12% lower than St Paul

Jacksonville

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

St Paul

78 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jacksonville's crime index is 69 versus 78 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Jacksonville. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Jacksonville, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in St Paul. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Jacksonville and St Paul are about even on school scores.

Jacksonville

A- · 84/100

St Paul

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Jacksonville, A- in St Paul). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

12% more comfortable

Jacksonville weather is 12% more comfortable than St Paul

Jacksonville

Winner

87°F typical

St Paul

Comfort 52/100

What this means for your life

Jacksonville scores 12% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Jacksonville reads as hot, long summers; St Paul reads as a mixed climate. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want St Paul's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Jacksonville

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Pick Jacksonville if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (87°F) beat St Paul on this page's weather index by 12%. St Paul may pay more or cost less, but Jacksonville is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than St Paul (69 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Jacksonville report →

Fit check

Who should choose St Paul

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 26% cheaper here at about $1,232 a month. Choose St Paul if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

St Paul is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 13% higher here ($72,400). Start with St Paul if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the St Paul report →

Bottom line

Jacksonville vs St Paul, called

If cost of living is your priority, St Paul is the clear choice.

If safety matters more to you, Jacksonville pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, St Paul offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Jacksonville vs St Paul FAQ

Is Jacksonville cheaper than St Paul?: No. St Paul is cheaper: typical rent is $1,232 a month versus $1,658 in Jacksonville — 26% lower. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $72,400 in St Paul, so St Paul has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Jacksonville or St Paul?: Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 78 in St Paul — 12% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Jacksonville or St Paul?: School composites are close: A- in Jacksonville and A- in St Paul. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to St Paul?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps