Bellevue WA 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)

Bellevue, WA

Washington · Population: 151,199

  • Median HH Income$161,300
  • Median Home Price$1,527,243
  • Unemployment4.0%
  • Bachelor's+71.4%

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
Bellevue
151,199
Saint Paul
307,762
Saint Paul +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bellevue
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A
Median Age
Bellevue
38.3
Saint Paul
33.5
Saint Paul +
Foreign Born
Bellevue
42.1%
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
18.7%
White
Bellevue
45.0%
Saint Paul
53.2%
Saint Paul +
Black
Bellevue
2.2%
Saint Paul
16.2%
Saint Paul +
Asian
Bellevue
41.0%
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
17.9%
Hispanic
Bellevue
8.5%
Saint Paul
9.1%
Saint Paul +
Spanish at Home
Bellevue
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bellevue
$161,300
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
$73,055
Per Capita Income
Bellevue
$92,441
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
$41,594
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bellevue
$76,120
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
$69,467
Unemployment Rate
Bellevue
4.0%
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
4.9%
Poverty Rate
Bellevue
7.3%
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
15.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
Bellevue
71.4%
Bellevue +
Saint Paul
43.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bellevue
$1,527,243
Saint Paul
$297,021
Saint Paul +
Homeownership Rate
Bellevue
51.9%
Saint Paul
53.2%
Saint Paul +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
383
Saint Paul
284
Saint Paul +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bellevue
3409
Saint Paul
1992
Saint Paul +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
18.8%
Saint Paul
N/A
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
6.9%
Saint Paul
N/A
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bellevue
12.5%
Saint Paul
N/A
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
5.4%
Saint Paul
N/A
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
15.6%
Saint Paul
N/A
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bellevue
5.5%
Saint Paul
N/A

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bellevue
N/A
Saint Paul
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bellevue
25.6 min
Saint Paul
24.1 min
Saint Paul +

Which City is Right for You?

Bellevue leads in median household income at $161,300, 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 383 in Bellevue. Bellevue has a lower unemployment rate at 4.0%, and Bellevue has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.5 µg/m³).

Compare More Cities

About Bellevue & Saint Paul