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Living in
South St. Paul.
About
Life in South St. Paul
Living in South St. Paul means embracing a tight-knit, unpretentious community just minutes from St. Paul's job market and amenities, but with your own distinct identity rooted in working-class immigrant heritage.
South St. Paul at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Foreign-Born
8.1%
Broadband Internet
93.3%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in South St. Paul: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In South St. Paul, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (37.7%), and 10.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.8%
of residents
65 and Older
15.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.7%
of households
Married Couples
42.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.43
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% below MN average
Rent, home values, and income in South St. Paul
In South St. Paul, rent runs 6% below the MN average, and home values are 14% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,347
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in South St. Paul and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dakota County, which includes South St. Paul, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
South St. Paul: Dakota County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dakota County (county-wide) · Annual averages
South St. Paul is about 5% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What South St. Paul Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute21.3 min avg
How South St. Paul residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In South St. Paul, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 68% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in South St. Paul runs 68% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
107
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,288.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
South St. Paul Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dakota County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dakota County, which includes South St. Paul, the most common type is hail, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 18 | Hail | $2.1M |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $153,700 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dakota County, county-wide
South St. Paul is about 5% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dakota County, which includes South St. Paul, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Dakota County, county-wide
South St. Paul is about 5% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 12°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
South St. Paul has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 12°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/12°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
29.2"
Annual Snowfall
51.2"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
146
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
102
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 9°F | 0.48" |
| Feb | 29°F | 13°F | 0.52" |
| Mar | 42°F | 25°F | 1.43" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 2.58" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.97" |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 4.63" |
| Jul | 83°F | 64°F | 3.97" |
| Aug | 80°F | 62°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 3.08" |
| Oct | 58°F | 40°F | 2.47" |
| Nov | 42°F | 27°F | 1.32" |
| Dec | 29°F | 15°F | 0.65" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in South St. Paul
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside South St. Paul's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Woodbury
Allina United Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Saint Paul
Regions Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Saint Paul
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in South St. Paul
South St. Paul's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near South St. Paul (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
11.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,044 students · in-state tuition $6,567 · 26% graduate · median earnings $55,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for South St. Paul
South St. Paul has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
5 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in South St. Paul
South Saint Paul Public Library
106 3rd Avenue N, South St Paul
Cities Near South St. Paul
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to South St. Paul?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
South St. Paul FAQ
Is South St. Paul, Minnesota affordable?⌄
South St. Paul's median rent is $1,199/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $87,994/year. Median home value is $281,600.
Is South St. Paul, Minnesota safe?⌄
South St. Paul's violent crime rate was 107 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1289 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in South St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
Dakota County, which includes South St. Paul, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in South St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in South St. Paul is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,199/month and median household income is $87,994/year. The median home value is $281,600. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in South St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in South St. Paul is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from