NSP Snowman, 2008
North St. Paul’s story
139 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,099 in 1890, 12,364 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1938 and a map from 1953 on.
- 1887North St. Paul is settled
Photo: Iulus Ascanius at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Population
12,780
2025 Census estimate · +3.3% since 2020
Typical home
$324K
+1.6% in a year
Household income
$85K
median
Median age
35.2
years
Jobs based here
3,836
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#227 of 271 in MN
Is North St. Paul a good place to live?
North St. Paul grades B− overall, 227th of 271 graded towns in Minnesota, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $85K and 9% of its land is conserved. Its lowest everyday mark is in schools: its schools rank behind 68% of the state's. North St. Paul’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile, where Minnesota’s towns sit at 0.5 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Only 26 of Minnesota’s 572 towns score lower on civic life. North St. Paul is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 83% of U.S. towns.
What makes North St. Paul stand out
Where North St. Paul beats most towns.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave North St. Paul for work
Where North St. Paul’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
3,836jobs based in North St. Paul
5%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How North St. Paul grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far North St. Paul is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.6 of 20; 8% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income3,836 jobs based hereA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →SchoolsCOpen →SafetyC+Open →HealthM Health Fairview St. John's Hospital 1.9 miles awayBOpen →Cost of livingC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trailsAOpen →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 82° summer afternoons, 40″ of snow–Open →Housing market12 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.2; 31% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 72 attractions →U.S. Bank Stadium and 70 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around North St. Paul. Close and well known come first.
Big draw13 mi Stadium & arenaU.S. Bank Stadium
7 mi Stadium & arenaGrand Casino Arena
11 mi Stadium & arenaHuntington Bank Stadium
14 mi Stadium & arenaTarget Field
6 mi MuseumMinnesota State Capitol
9 mi Stadium & arenaAllianz FieldSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
U.S. Bank Stadium: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grand Casino Arena: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Huntington Bank Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Target Field: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Minnesota State Capitol: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Allianz Field: Andy Witchger, CC BY 2.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to North St. Paul: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in North St. Paul, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of North St PaulEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterNorth Saint Paul water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressDay by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRamsey County ElectionsRamsey County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2017
ZIP code5510955109 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in North St. Paul.
North St. Paul gets more snow than most of the country, though not than most of Minnesota and is healthy by national standards but behind most towns in Minnesota; it also has seen reported crime rise by about half.
OutdoorsA
Conserved land covers 8.8% of North St. Paul
That puts North St. Paul against 4.6% in Minnesota’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. 3.4 miles of trail in 9 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Casey Lake Park, at 28 acres.
#38for trails in MN
8.8%
conserved · 169 of 1,912 acres
3.4 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Southwood Nature Preserve | 0.8 mi | 25 |
| 2. Casey Lake Park | — | 28 |
| 3. Silver Lake Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
North St. Paul’s grade for schools is a C
Its public schools are run by the North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale school district. Two of its 15 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
32%of MN districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 654 | D |
| North Senior HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,649 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
North St. Paul has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 2,767 in 2013 to 3,836.
Most working residents leave North St. Jobs based in North St. Paul grew to 3,836 in 2023, 1,069 more than in 2013. North St. Paul’s average trip to work is 22 minutes.
5%work in town
| North St. Paul | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.6% | 9.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In North St. Paul5%
St. Paul18%
Minneapolis11%
Maplewood5%
Oakdale4%
10 mi
median commute distance
3,836
jobs based in North St. Paul
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 83% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in North St. Paul
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 72% of U.S. communities. Since 2000, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in North St. Paul.
28risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
3
paid flood claims since 2000
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
North St. Paul has snowy winters and pleasant summers
The U Of Mn St Paul weather station, 9 miles away, records that 40 inches of snow fall in a normal winter: more than most of the country, but less than 83% of Minnesota places with climate records. January nights average 6.8°: colder than most of the country, but milder than 96% of Minnesota places with climate records; July afternoons average 81.9°.
The January low in North St. Paul is 7°F. Paul has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
40″snow a winter
| North St. Paul | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 7°F | 6°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 82°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–26°
Spring35–55°
Summer60–80°
Fall39–57°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 23
typical last frost
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyC+
North St. Paul reports more crime per resident than 65% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes rose from 190 to 347 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. At 25.7 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 77% of Minnesota’s graded towns.
35%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
North St. Paul2.3
Minnesota2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
North St. Paul24.9
Minnesota14.3
U.S.15.5
35th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
23rd
percentile among MN towns
29
violent crimes reported in 2025
318
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like Minnesota’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Minnesota average. 27% of residents are under 18 in North St. Paul. North St. Paul has grown 3.3% since 2020, to 12,780 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
35.2median age · MN 38.8
| North St. Paul | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 27% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 35.2 years | 39.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 14% | 18% | 18% |
North St. PaulMinnesotaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school26%
Some college21%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.7 points. Across Minnesota, 49.9% of residents are women. Median age: women 34.9, men 35.8.
| North St. Paul | MN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 17.2% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.3% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6% | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 13.5% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.2% | 11.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.5% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.7% | 7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.9% | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26% | 23.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.6% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.2% | 11.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24% | 25.6% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.3% | 13.8% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthB
North St. Paul is healthier than 58% of U.S. towns
Within Minnesota it is less healthy than 76% of the 271 graded towns: Minnesota sets a high bar.
38% of North St. Paul adults feel lonely. Among 271 Minnesota towns, just 9 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than North St. Paul. 27% of North St. Paul adults have been diagnosed with depression.
58%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| North St. Paul | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 30% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 25% | 23% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 75% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | North St. Paul | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 15.4% | 17.8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 16.5% | 11.4% |
M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital
1.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
24th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C+
Homes in North St. Paul are worth about $324K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical North St. Paul home is worth about $324,000, up 1.6% in a year, 7% below the Minnesota typical home.
$324KZillow home value
Typical home value
North St. Paul$324K
Minnesota$349K
Market temperature
12
days on market
100.4%
sale-to-list price
+1.6%
value change, 1 year
16
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North St. Paul
20pages on North St. Paul
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 68% of MN districts · 15 schoolsSafetyC+2.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than MN on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$324K typical home · up 1.6% in a yearWork & commuteA−$85K median household income · 3,836 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 28% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
22 within 15 miles of the center of North St. Paul
Century CollegeCommunity college · Public · White Bear Lake2.2 mi$6,214 in-state tuitionMetropolitan State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Saint Paul5.3 mi$9,840 in-state tuitionSaint Paul CollegeCommunity college · Public · Saint Paul6.9 mi$6,326 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 North St. Paul residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
Famous people from North St. Paul
4 notable people were born in North St. Paul.
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About North St. Paul
City in Minnesota, United States
North Saint Paul (abbreviated North St. Paul) is a city in Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States, located east-northeast of the city of Saint Paul. The population was 12,364 at the 2020 census. North Saint Paul is a distinct city, and not a neighborhood of nearby Saint Paul. This fact also contributes to a major difference from typical suburbs; rather than being composed of new developments and urban sprawl, many of the structures in town are older, including a downtown area of brick storefronts. On the east side of the Margaret Street bridge over Minnesota State Highway 36 resides the 20-ton North Saint Paul Snowman. As the official city logo of North Saint Paul, it was constructed on Ma…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1887
- Area
- 3.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 974 ft
- Area code
- 651
North St. Paul’s neighbors
One town shares a border with North St. Paul.
MaplewoodNorth St. Paul
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North St. Paul | #227 | B− | C+ | C+ | C | B |
| Maplewood | #236 | C+ | C+ | D | C | A− |
Questions about North St. Paul
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North St. Paul, MN a good place to live?
North St. Paul grades B− overall, better than 48% of U.S. towns and #227 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades B for health, C+ for safety and C for schools.
Is North St. Paul, MN expensive?
Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is North St. Paul, MN known for?
North St. 4 notable people were born here, including Stephanie Anderson and Troy G. Ward.