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Living in
West St. Paul.
About
Life in West St. Paul
Living in West St. Paul means settling into a genuinely affordable Twin Cities suburb that's grown about 6.6% in recent years—a place where a median home costs around $301,300 and rent runs about $1,282 a month, making it accessible compared to Saint Paul proper or the pricier western suburbs. You're sandwiched between Saint Paul to the north and South St.
West St. Paul at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Foreign-Born
9.2%
Broadband Internet
86.8%
of households
Population Growth
+6.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in West St. Paul: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West St. Paul, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (43.6%), and 12.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
20.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.9%
of households
Married Couples
34.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
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 about average for MN
Rent, home values, and income in West St. Paul
In West St. Paul, home values are 9% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,142
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.2%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in West St. Paul and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Dakota County, which includes West St. Paul, is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
West St. Paul: Dakota County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dakota County (county-wide) · Annual averages
West St. Paul is about 5% of Dakota County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What West 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
Commute22.4 min avg
How West St. Paul residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West St. Paul, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 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 21% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West St. Paul runs 21% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
260.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,806.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
West 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 West 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
West 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 West 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
West 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
West 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 West St. Paul
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside West St. Paul's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Allina United Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Saint Paul
Regions Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Saint Paul
Gillette Childrens Specialty Hospital
Childrens · 3.8 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.
Education21.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West St. Paul
West St. Paul's student/teacher ratio is 21.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 35.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
35.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West St. Paul (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
8.8 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, 3 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West St. Paul
West St. Paul has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (3 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
3 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in West St. Paul
West St. Paul: Wentworth Comm Library
199 Wentworth Av, West St Paul
Cities Near West St. Paul
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West St. Paul?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West St. Paul FAQ
Is West St. Paul, Minnesota affordable?⌄
West St. Paul's median rent is $1,282/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $68,464/year. Median home value is $301,300.
Is West St. Paul, Minnesota safe?⌄
West St. Paul's violent crime rate was 260 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3807 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
Dakota County, which includes West 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 West St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in West St. Paul is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,282/month and median household income is $68,464/year. The median home value is $301,300. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West St. Paul, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in West St. Paul is 22 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