The Safest Neighborhoods In St. Paul, MN: 2022's Ultimate List

Cyril Balahadia
by Cyril Balahadia
St. Paul is one of the most beloved places in Minnesota, and despite its high crime rates, there are many safe places to live in the city. Neighborhoods like Summit Hill, Battle Creek, and Highland Park are among the safest neighborhoods in St. Paul. Whether it be Como or West Seventh, let’s take a look at the 8 safest neighborhoods in St. Paul.

Also known as the City of Neighbors, St. Paul, MN is made of 17 different communities that are characterized by their heritage and traditions.

St. Paul, one-half of the Minnesota Twin Cities, is proud to be home to colorful and unique neighborhoods, where the residents and businesses based here make up the essence of the soul of the city. And while St. Paul was listed as the second most dangerous city in Minnesota according to FBI statistics, it has neighborhoods that are considered safer than the national average.

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8 Safest Neighborhoods in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Rank

Neighborhood

Crime per 100k People

Total Crime vs. Nat. Avg.

1

Macalester-Groveland

1,588

38% lower

2

Highland Park

1,567

39% lower

3

Como

1,962

24% lower

4

Summit Hill

2,636

2% higher

5

Saint Anthony Park

2,829

10% higher

6

Hamline-Midway

2,931

14% higher

7

Battle Creek

3,452

34% higher

8

West Seventh

4,385

70% higher

In this article, we listed the 8 safest neighborhoods in the capital city, St. Paul. Some neighborhoods are indeed struggling more than others, and this is normal for any city in the world. Check out our list below.

1. Macalester-Groveland

  • Population: 19,540
  • Median Home Price: $447,607
  • Average Rental Price: Between $950 and $1,224

Located just the northern part of Highland Park, Mac-Groveland, which is named after Macalester College, is one of the safest neighborhoods in St. Paul. This popular commercial district runs through the heart of the city, offering a lot of dining and shopping options.

Mac-Groveland offers many different housing opportunities both for families and students, which includes duplexes, single-family homes, and apartments. It’s surely a great place to raise a family or stay as a student.

And while Macalester-Groveland is close to bigger cities, it gives you the suburban feel. Going to large sports events or concert is easy from this location. But one what you’ll love most about this place is the fact that it’s very pedestrian-friendly, which makes it very walkable and bikeable.

2. Highland Park

  • Population: 24,589
  • Median Home Price: $367,196
  • Average Rental Price: Between $1,032 and $1,405

In the southwestern part of the city sits the fairly big neighborhood of Highland Park. Because of its size and distance from the center of the city, this neighborhood will give you the ultimate suburban vibe.

This neighborhood is filled with Victorian-style homes with single-family and apartment-type buildings. Just like the previously mentioned neighborhood, this is also very walkable and boasts plenty of wooded parks.

You’ll enjoy a wide selection of restaurants and stores that you don’t even have to go to the Downtown to get whatever you might need. If you have kids, there are many schools around the area, including the venerated Highland Senior High School. But of course, what attracts many homebuyers to this neighborhood is the lower crime rates.

3. Como

  • Population: 15,759
  • Median Home Price: $281,967
  • Average Rental Price: Between $1,058 and $1,246

One of the city’s favorite weekend getaway spots, Como is another safe place to go in St. Paul. This neighborhood is surrounded by a park and Lake Como. For families with kids, Como Zoo is there as a great way to entertain the little ones.

On the main street of the neighborhood is Snell Avenue, which is an area teeming with tiny apartments occupied by small families and young professionals. But there are also single-family homes throughout the neighborhood perfect for those who need bigger space.

While Como is a little be more expensive than the rest of the city, this is still chosen by many due to the quality of life it offers. Overall, it’s a perfect place for those who are looking for a safe, beautiful place to live.

4. Summit Hill

  • Population: 3,358
  • Median Home Price: $489,904
  • Average Rental Price: Between $986 and $1,196

There’s no doubt that Summit Hill is one of the nicest areas in St. Paul. Not only safe and beautiful, but this neighborhood also offers different forms of entertainment.

Swarmed with bars and restaurants, many residents enjoy its proximity to downtown. No wonder why many young professionals and families choose to call this trendy neighborhood their home.

Aside from these qualities, Summit Hill is also known for its well-reserved Victorian buildings like the Minnesota Governor’s Residence and James H. Hill. This neighborhood has a lot of big, bourgeois houses, but it also has smaller single-family houses.

5. Saint Anthony Park

  • Population: 7,633
  • Median Home Price: $301,071
  • Average Rental Price: Between $949 and $3,876

The neighborhood of Saint Anthony Park borders southeast Minneapolis and the St. Paul University of Minnesota campus. This neighborhood is inhabited by a lot of faculty and university students, but it also has a big number of bigger, historic single-family homes.

You’ll surely fall in love with this beautiful neighborhood, thanks to the Gentle hills and curving streets. If you are a family with kids, Saint Anthony Park would be a great place to live. There is an elementary school, library, and parks in this area.

Another thing you will love about this place is the friendly community it offers. People here are friendly, and most shops are run by locals. People jogging or walking their dogs is common a common sight.

6. Hamline-Midway

  • Population: 11,499
  • Median Home Price: $200,173
  • Average Rental Price: Between $899 and $1,188

Going to the west side of St. Paul is the Hamline-Midway neighborhood. This neighborhood stretches throughout Hamline Avenue and it is where Hamline University is located. Although this neighborhood often gets foot traffic from students, it remains pretty quiet and peaceful.

The neighborhood is filled with small to medium family houses. But if you’re a student or a small family looking for a small option, there are also apartments more ideal for your needs. Aside from being quiet and peaceful, another reason to love this area is how walkable it is.

7. Battle Creek

  • Population: 20,347
  • Median Home Price: $274,286
  • Average Rental Price: Between $1,060 and $1,561

Another safe neighborhood in St. Paul is Battle Creek. This neighborhood gives off a suburban vibe community. This is also remarkably close to all the amenities offered by a city, making it an amazing choice among young professionals and young families.

Another reason why many people choose to call Battle Creek their home is that it’s more affordable than most neighborhoods in St. Paul. So, it’s not only very safe but also a great place to invest in a home.

The friendly neighbors and peaceful community will surely make anyone consider living here. This neighborhood is home to a lot of different outdoor activities and recreational amenities like Pig’s Eye Lake and including Battle Creek Regional Park, where you can enjoy biking, walking, and cross-country skiing on the many trails.

8. West Seventh

  • Population: 11,079
  • Median Home Price: $239,047
  • Average Rental Price: Between $1,094 and $1,886

West Seventh runs diagonally throughout the river into downtown St. Paul. This is an up-and-coming neighborhood with an industrial-urban atmosphere that attracts a lot of artists, families, and young professionals.

This neighborhood features a wide mix of older businesses and trendy cafes, dive bars, galleries, antique shops, and international restaurants.

You will surely love the warmth this neighborhood offers. The lush boulevards, several cafes, and friendly people are surely enough reason to consider living here. But as a bonus, this neighborhood has great proximity to the downtown.

Crime Rate in St. Paul, MN

With a crime rate of 42 per 1000 residents, St. Paul has one of the highest crime rates in the US. Your possibility of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 24.

Within the whole state, over 96% of the communities have a lower crime rate than St. Paul. Now, let’s compare the crimes in St. Paul to the rest of the United States.

St. Paul Annual Crimes

Violent

Property

Total

Number of Crimes

2,037

10,773

12,810

Crime Rate


(per 1,000 residents)

6.62

35.01

41.63

St. Paul Violent Crimes

Population: 307,695

Murder

Rape

Robbery

Assault

Report Total

15

288

595

1,139

Rate per 1,000

0.05

0.94

1.93

3.70

The United States Violent Crimes

Population: 327,167,434

Murder

Rape

Robbery

Assault

Report Total

16,214

139,380

282,061

807,410

Rate per 1,000

0.05

0.43

0.86

2.47

So, Is St Paul Safe?

Based on the statistics above, it’s easy to tell that St. Paul is not the safest city in the US. Crime, particularly violent crime such as homicide and robbery, can considerably detract from any city’s quality of life.

However, this doesn’t mean that St. Paul is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. This sleep city is not dangerous.

The law of attraction should apply here – you will be able to attract good things and by practicing common sense, being surrounded by the right crowds, and being aware of your environs.

By sticking to the right neighborhoods, particularly the ones mentioned above, you should not have problems.

What are the Bad Parts of St. Paul?

Here is the list of the most dangerous neighborhoods in St. Paul for 2020. This ranking is calculated based on the number of violent crimes in every neighborhood per 100,000 people for each neighborhood, compared to the St. Paul violent crime average.

Violent crimes include rape, murder, assault, and robbery. The most dangerous areas in St. Paul is derived from data extracted from the local law enforcement agency while the estimates are based on demographic data.

Rank

Neighborhood

Population

Crime per 100k People

Total Crime vs. St. Paul

1

Thomas Dale

15,246

1,260

101% higher

2

Downtown

9,025

1,219

95% higher

3

Dayton’s Bluff

18,217

1,110

77% higher

4

North End

27,188

978

56% higher

5

Payne Phallen

30,979

929

48% higher

6

Summit University

17,598

831

33% higher

7

West Side

15,619

665

6% higher

What are the Richest Neighborhoods in St. Paul?

For a lot of us, living in these high-end neighborhoods in St. Paul might be well beyond our means because these neighborhoods include some of the most expensive real estate and rental prices in the whole state.

Listed below are the most expensive neighborhoods in St. Paul for 2020, sorted by the overall cost of living comparing all the neighborhoods in the city.

Rank

Neighborhood

Cost of Living Index

Cost of Living vs. St. Paul

1

Summit Hill

125 vs 103

21% higher

2

Macalester-Groveland

117 vs 103

13% higher

3

Highland

115 vs 103

11% higher

4

Saint Anthony

115 vs 103

11% higher

5

Merriam Park

114 vs 103

11% higher

6

Summit-University

112 vs 103

8% higher

7

Downtown

105 vs 103

2% higher

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What are the Best Neighborhoods in St. Paul, MN?

Searching for the best neighborhoods in St. Paul Minnesota may involve the help of a professional real estate agent. They can help you find the best neighborhood based on your needs and preference.

The best neighborhoods in St. Paul for you is subjective to what you are looking for exactly:

  • Are you looking for the safest neighborhood? Go for Macalester-Groveland and the rest of the list above.
  • Are you looking for the cheapest neighborhood? Thomas Dale is the cheapest St. Paul Neighborhood.
  • Do you want to be where all the exciting things happen? Then stick to Downtown!

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Cyril Balahadia
Cyril Balahadia

Coming from a family of woodcarvers, Cyril has always been fascinated with wooden interiors and home decorating. While she followed the path of writing as her career, her interests in home improvements still remain.

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