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South St. Paul.

All South St. Paul data Compare South St. Paul

20,611people live here $87,994median household incomeNear US average $1,199median rent per month▼ 15% below US $281,600median home value▼ 15% below US

What it's like to live in South St. Paul

South St. Paul is a small city in Minnesota with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average.

Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next. The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly.

The good

Rent below the national average
Affordable home prices
Low unemployment in the county
Low crime rates
Short commutes
Low student-teacher ratio

The not so good

Cold, harsh winters
Snowy winters — 51" per year
Car-dependent — few commuters use transit

How South St. Paul compares

Median household income

South St. Paul$87,994

Minnesota avg$89,062

US$80,734

Median rent (per month)

South St. Paul$1,199

Minnesota avg$1,280

US$1,413

Median home value

South St. Paul$281,600

Minnesota avg$329,300

US$332,700

What it takes to move to South St. Paul

Based on South St. Paul's median rent, home value and household income

To rent

$2,398

up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit

Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,960 a year
46% of South St. Paul renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent

To buy

$56,320

a 20% down payment on the median home

With 10% down: $28,160
Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)

Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.

The details

Cost of living▼ 15% below US

$1,199/mo median rent

Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,199 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $281,600. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.

Median home value $281,600 · 46% of renters cost-burdened

Job market

3.6% county unemployment

Unemployment in Dakota County is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.

Dakota County (county-wide)

Safety▼ 68% below US

107 violent crimes per 100k

Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.

Property crime 1289/100k · South St. Paul Police Department · 2025 data

Getting around▼ 18% below US

21 min average commute

Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.

How workers get to work

Drive alone

69%

Work from home

15%

Carpool

13%

Other

2.2%

Walk

0.8%

Public transit

0.7%

Climate

Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 12°F.

Average month

High °FLow °FPrecip (in)

30-year averages, 1991–2020

Education & workforceNear US average

33% bachelor's degree or higher

Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.

Schools

8 public schools inside the boundary

There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.

Parks & recreation

The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (5 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.

Bottom line

South St. Paul's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are cold, harsh winters and snowy winters. A year of median rent ($1,199/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.

See all the data for South St. Paul →·All Minnesota cities →