Arlington TX vs Saint Paul MN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Arlington, TX

Texas · Population: 394,769

  • Median HH Income$73,519
  • Median Home Price$313,683
  • Unemployment5.7%
  • Bachelor's+33.1%

Saint Paul, MN

Minnesota · Population: 307,762

  • Median HH Income$73,055
  • Median Home Price$297,021
  • Unemployment4.9%
  • Bachelor's+43.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Arlington
394,769
Arlington +
Saint Paul
307,762
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Arlington
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A
Median Age
Arlington
33.6
Saint Paul
33.5
Saint Paul +
Foreign Born
Arlington
21.3%
Arlington +
Saint Paul
18.7%
White
Arlington
43.2%
Saint Paul
53.2%
Saint Paul +
Black
Arlington
22.4%
Arlington +
Saint Paul
16.2%
Asian
Arlington
7.3%
Saint Paul
17.9%
Saint Paul +
Hispanic
Arlington
31.0%
Arlington +
Saint Paul
9.1%
Spanish at Home
Arlington
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Arlington
$73,519
Arlington +
Saint Paul
$73,055
Per Capita Income
Arlington
$35,226
Saint Paul
$41,594
Saint Paul +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Arlington
$63,758
Saint Paul
$69,467
Saint Paul +
Unemployment Rate
Arlington
5.7%
Saint Paul
4.9%
Saint Paul +
Poverty Rate
Arlington
13.1%
Arlington +
Saint Paul
15.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Arlington
33.1%
Saint Paul
43.5%
Saint Paul +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Arlington
$313,683
Saint Paul
$297,021
Saint Paul +
Homeownership Rate
Arlington
54.8%
Arlington +
Saint Paul
53.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
442
Saint Paul
284
Saint Paul +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Arlington
2339
Saint Paul
1992
Saint Paul +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
33.8%
Saint Paul
N/A
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Arlington
12.0%
Saint Paul
N/A
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Arlington
18.2%
Saint Paul
N/A
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Arlington
18.4%
Saint Paul
N/A
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Arlington
16.0%
Saint Paul
N/A
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Arlington
13.3%
Saint Paul
N/A

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
65.4°F
Saint Paul
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Arlington
39.6 in
Saint Paul
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Arlington
9.2 µg/m³
Saint Paul
8.1 µg/m³
Saint Paul +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Arlington
55.0%
Saint Paul
75.0%
Saint Paul +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Arlington
29.0 min
Saint Paul
24.1 min
Saint Paul +

Which City is Right for You?

Arlington leads in median household income at $73,519, while saint Paul offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $297,021. On public safety, Saint Paul is safer with a violent crime rate of 284 per 100,000 residents, compared to 442 in Arlington. Saint Paul has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and Saint Paul has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³).

Compare More Cities

About Arlington & Saint Paul