Is St Paul cheaper than Madison?

Yes. Typical rent in St Paul is $1,232 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $72,400 in St Paul compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, St Paul or Madison?

Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 78 in St Paul — 9% 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, St Paul or Madison?

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

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City comparison

St Paul, MN vs Madison, WI

St Paul, MN versus Madison, WI 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 $1,232 a month in St Paul and $1,694 in Madison, and median household income lands at $72,400 versus $74,895. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

St Paul takes affordability, while Madison takes job market, safety, and weather. The widest gap is typical weather, where Madison leads by 73% — 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 St Paul can feel further apart than St Paul and Madison do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the St Paul and Madison reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full St Paul report Full Madison report

St Paul, MN

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

Madison, WI

Rent: $1,694/mo
Median income: $74,895
Crime index: 71
Schools: A-
Weather: 66°F

Rent

27% cheaper

St Paul rent is 27% cheaper than Madison

St Paul

Winner

$1,232/mo

Madison

$1,694/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,232 a month in St Paul versus $1,694 in Madison, so St Paul is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $462/month back in your pocket — $5,544/year. Over five years that's $27,720 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 Madison, 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

3% higher

Madison's median income is 3% higher than St Paul

St Paul

$72,400

Madison

Winner

$74,895

What this means for your life

Median household income is $74,895 in Madison versus $72,400 in St Paul, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Madison — about $2,495 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

9% lower crime

Madison's crime index is 9% lower than St Paul

St Paul

78 (100 = avg)

Madison

Winner

71 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Madison's crime index is 71 versus 78 in St Paul (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 9% lower in Madison. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Madison, 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

St Paul and Madison are about even on school scores.

St Paul

A- · 84/100

Madison

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in St Paul, A- in Madison). 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

73% more comfortable

Madison weather is 73% more comfortable than St Paul

St Paul

Comfort 52/100

Madison

Winner

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Madison scores 73% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. St Paul reads as a mixed climate; Madison reads as mild, livable temperatures. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Madison is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. St Paul can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose St Paul

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Paul

St Paul is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% 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.

Open the St Paul report →

Fit check

Who should choose Madison

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($74,895), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 66°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Madison is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 9% lower than St Paul (71 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 Madison report →

Bottom line

St Paul vs Madison, called

If weather is your priority, Madison is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, St Paul pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

St Paul vs Madison FAQ

Is St Paul cheaper than Madison?: Yes. Typical rent in St Paul is $1,232 a month versus $1,694 in Madison — 27% cheaper. Median household income is $72,400 in St Paul compared with $74,895 in Madison, so Madison has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, St Paul or Madison?: Madison is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 71 versus 78 in St Paul — 9% 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, St Paul or Madison?: School composites are close: A- in St Paul and A- in Madison. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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