Cost of Living in North St. Paul, MN

Population 12,511 · Minnesota · Data vintage 2023

96
Cost Index
(100 = US avg)
Page updated: · Data vintage: 2023 ACS 5-Year
Sources: Census ACS·BLS·NOAA·EPA·Zillow · Methodology

North St. Paul sits on the smaller end of the Minnesota city distribution. That scale shapes the housing market, the labor pool, and the services available to residents in ways the data below makes visible.

Located 7 miles northeast of St. Paul, North St. Paul falls within that metro's commuting orbit. Housing prices track closely with St. Paul's $280,000 median.

Cost Overview

Housing 94
Rent 99

Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.

About the Cost of Living in North St. Paul

The median home value in North St. Paul is $286,600 — 6% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $1,304/month, 1% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $81,641/year is 9% higher than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, below the national average of 4.8%. Minnesota's top state income tax rate is 9.8% and the combined sales tax is 7.4%. Overall, North St. Paul has a cost of living index of 96 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 4% less expensive.

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value
$286,600
6% below avg
Zillow Home Value
$321,414
Zillow ZHVI
Median Rent
$1,304/mo
1% below avg
Zillow Rent
$1,407/mo
Zillow ZORI
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3x
Favors buying
Property Tax Rate
1.1%
Effective rate

HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$702
1 BR
$784
2 BR
$937
3 BR
$1,307
4 BR
$1,537
Owner-occupied 66.6%
Renter-occupied 33.4%

💰 Estimated Monthly Budget

Rent median rent
$1,304
Groceries national estimate
$400
Utilities local estimate
$88
Transportation local gas prices
$126
Estimated Total $1,918/mo

Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.

🛒 Food & Groceries

National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.

🥚
Eggs (dozen)
$0.548
🍞
White Bread (lb)
$1.912
🥩
Ground Beef (lb)
$5.61

🚗 Transportation

Avg Commute
26.2 min
3% below avg
Gas Price
$3.145/gal
0% below avg
Work From Home
11.3%

Commute Mode

Drove alone
76.2%
Carpooled
9.1%
Public transit
2.0%
Walked
0.2%
Work from home
11.3%

Utilities

Electricity
$0.176/kWh
0% below avg

📋 Taxes

State Income Tax 9.8%
Total Sales Tax 7.4%
State rate 6.9%
Avg local rate 0.6%
Property Tax 1.1%

💼 Income & Employment

Median Household Income
$81,641
9% above avg
Per Capita Income
$35,077
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
29% below avg
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Labor Force Participation
68.3%

🎓 Education

Bachelor's degree+ 20.7%
Graduate degree 7.0%

👥 Demographics

Median Age 33.6
Male median age 33.2
Female median age 33.9

💨 Air Quality

EPA AQS 2023 — county-level monitoring data

Median AQI 49 — Good
51.5%
Good air days/yr
190
Max AQI recorded
352
PM2.5 days
0
Ozone days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in North St. Paul, MN?

North St. Paul has a cost index of 96 (100 = national average). It is 4% below the national average.

What is average rent in North St. Paul, MN?

The median gross rent in North St. Paul is $1,304 per month based on 2023 Census data.

What is the average home price in North St. Paul?

The median home value in North St. Paul is $286,600 according to Zillow and Census data.

What is the median income in North St. Paul?

The median household income in North St. Paul is $81,641 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).

What is the sales tax in North St. Paul, MN?

The combined state and local sales tax rate in North St. Paul is 7.4%. The Minnesota state income tax top rate is 9.8%.

Is North St. Paul, MN affordable?

North St. Paul is near the national average in terms of cost of living, with an index of 96 (100 = US average).

North St. Paul at a Glance

Population
12,511
Median Income
$81,641
Home Value
$286,600
Median Rent
$1,304/mo
Unemployment
3.4%
Sales Tax
7.4%
View all cities in Minnesota →
🗺️ County data for Minnesota

Explore county-level cost of living data

Similar Cost Cities

Cities in other states with comparable housing costs