When you move to a new city or state, there’s a lot to organize, such as finding a reliable moving company, securing a job, and researching your new home. Every place has its cultural benefits and climate that can vary drastically from what you’re used to, so doing that research should be a priority. You also want to look into the cost of living and how this compares to other cities.
We want to make your decision easy by including everything you need to know about moving to St. Paul, MN. The following guide provides all the necessary information to help you decide and be thoroughly prepared.
Why Move to St. Paul, MN?
There are plenty of reasons for relocating to St. Paul, MN. The reasons that appeal to you will depend on your circumstances and preferences.
Quality of Life in St. Paul
It’s important to know what determines a good or bad quality of life before applying it to St. Paul. You’ll want to consider the strength of the following factors when making your decision.
Health Care
St. Paul is part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which is known for its high-quality health care and workforce. Many educational opportunities in health care are provided by institutions like Saint Paul College, and excellent jobs are available in one of the many well-run, award-winning health care centers, such as Regions Hospital.
The Economy
With major corporations present in this city and thriving industries like health care, education, manufacturing, and more, the economy is only getting stronger each year. You’ll be able to choose from various major corporations with headquarters in St. Paul, such as Bremer Bank for finance, Ecolab for water and energy, the manufacturing conglomerate 3M, and many more.
The Environment
Green spaces are vital for mental health, and St. Paul has plenty of them. Located along the bluffs of the Mississippi, there are riverfront parks like the historic Harriet Island Regional Park or scenic trails like the Bruce Vento Regional Trail, where you can enjoy local wildlife.
To keep these green spaces intact, the city has a climate action and resilience plan aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050.
Culture and Recreation
There are many cultural spaces to enjoy in this city, like the Saint Paul Cultural Garden, created to honor the city’s 150th anniversary and celebrate the stories of the immigrants who shaped it. You can also enjoy golf and other sports facilities, museums like the Minnesota History Center, and community activities such as the Winter Carnival or St. Paul Farmers Market.
Education
St. Paul is home to 11 colleges and universities, including public, private, community, and technical colleges. The oldest is Hamline University, established in 1854, before Minnesota became a state. The wide variety of educational options that provide quality teaching makes the city a hub of learning and student activity.
Safety
St. Paul tends to be a safe city overall. However, as with anywhere, it’s always best to take precautions, especially in areas you’re not familiar with. You’ll need to review statistics and determine for yourself if the safety level is acceptable.
Popular Reasons for Relocating to St. Paul
There are several great reasons to move to St. Paul. For professionals of all ages, there are job opportunities and a strong economy with consistent job growth of 3.3% projected between 2022 and 2032. The many educational institutions across the city mean that students have choices of where to study and a chance to get housing close by.
St. Paul also has many community and recreation centers to foster the strong sense of community present within the city’s vibrant neighborhoods.
Navigating the St. Paul Housing Market
Another critical factor of moving is looking at the housing market. You need to ask yourself whether property is more or less expensive than the surrounding areas, and what the best places to live are. See our findings on housing market trends and what areas are best for families, young professionals, and students.
Housing Market Trends
As St. Paul has a growing job market, great educational opportunities, and a commitment to bettering the lives of its citizens, moving to St. Paul, MN, is a popular option. Homes are selling quickly, but not as fast as a few years ago, giving prospective buyers some breathing room. The balanced apartment rental market is good news for students, young professionals, and those just starting out.
Home prices in this city are more affordable than in the surrounding areas, with the median sale price being around $310,000. This is lower than Minneapolis, which is at $350,000, and other places nearby, which are even higher. In terms of apartment rentals, a one-bedroom apartment is currently going for $1,092 a month, and a 3-bedroom for $1,787.
Best Areas to Live in St. Paul
The best area to live in depends on your needs. Consider Highland Park, Como Park, Summit Hill, or Macalester-Groveland if you prefer family-friendly neighborhoods that are close to schools, community centers, and green spaces.
Union Park, West Seventh, Hamline-Midway, and Downtown St. Paul are communities more suitable for young professionals and students. These communities are close to employers, colleges, public transit, and a bustling nightlife.
Cost of Living and Daily Expenses
Long-term considerations like housing, jobs, and education are vital deciding factors in relocating, but so is the cost of living and your daily expenses.
Utilities and Transportation Costs
Your utility costs will vary depending on the size of your household, the number of people, and the rate of use. However, St. Paul’s utility costs are slightly lower according to the local consumer price index than in other places in the Midwest. If you’re driving, you can expect to pay $2.917 per gallon of gas, lower than the national average of $3.128.
Gas prices fluctuate, and how much they do depends on many constantly changing factors. With the cold winters, you’ll use more fuel to get around, as cold temperatures affect engine efficiency.
Comparing St. Paul’s Affordability to Other Cities
St. Paul belongs to the Twin Cities metro, and when comparing its affordability to other major metropolitan areas, it is below the national average for cost of living. According to a recent cost of living index, where the national average is 100, the Twin Cities metro scored 91.9, making living in St. Paul 8.1% cheaper overall.
Job Opportunities and Public Transportation
With a reliable public transport system and a diverse and steadily growing job market, there are plenty of opportunities and ways to get to places of employment in St. Paul. You can use Metro Transit’s robust light rail and bus system or a private vehicle. A regular fare is $2, while a monthly pass will cost $83 if your organization is enrolled in the Metropass program. Downtown is walkable, as are other neighborhoods around the city.
The major employment sectors in this city include healthcare, government, manufacturing, educational services, finance and insurance, hospitality, and food services. The presence of multinational conglomerates like HealthPartners, Securian Financial, and more as steady employers shows the interest that corporations have in this area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to St. Paul
Want to know more about moving to St. Paul? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What’s the Climate Like?
St. Paul has four distinct seasons — hot, humid summers, mild springs and falls, and cold winters. Be prepared to experience notable amounts of snow.
How Do You Choose a Reliable St. Paul Moving Company?
Your chosen moving company should have experience in long-distance moving and have a record of customer satisfaction to establish trust. At Daymakers Moving & Storage, we provide high-quality moving solutions. We have a decade in the business and hundreds of five-star reviews, so you can count on us to help your move go smoothly.
Contact Daymakers for a Stress-Free Move
We are a premium St. Paul moving company. We offer an end-to-end white-glove service and a personal moving consultant to support you through the process because you deserve to enjoy your next move. We provide free boxes and packing materials and will give you a free estimate for your move.
If you have any questions or would like to request a free quote, contact us online today!
