7 Most Affordable Saint Paul Suburbs to Live In

The other twin of “The Twin Cities,” Saint Paul, MN, is one of the great destinations to live in the Midwest. With historical museums and plenty of outdoor activities, it’s no wonder Saint Paul is also home to nearly 311,500 people.

As more people move to Saint Paul, it’s important to keep in mind that the median home sale price is $275,000 and the average sale price per square foot is $181. Or if you’re a renter, the average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Saint Paul is $1,558.

If those prices don’t fit into your budget, don’t worry. To help you find the right place to live, we’ve compiled a list of the 7 best affordable Saint Paul suburbs. And they’re all less than 30 minutes away from the city. No matter where you live, you’ll still be close enough to Saint Paul to explore the city’s great neighborhoods without the price of living there. 

#1: St. Anthony

Median home price: $135,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $150 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,540 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 15 minutes
St. Anthony, MN homes for sale
St. Anthony, MN apartments for rent

St. Anthony, with a median home sale price of $135,000, takes the number one spot on our list of affordable Saint Paul suburbs. About 5,600 people live in this suburban area, and you’ll only be about a 15-minute drive away from downtown Saint Paul. If you’re considering moving to this area, visit the St. Anthony Falls Historic Site or take a walk or bike ride along the Mississippi River.

#2: Inver Grove Heights

Median home price: $285,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $181 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,485 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 15 minutes
Inver Grove Heights, MN homes for sale
Inver Grove Heights, MN apartments for rent

Inver Grove Heights is Saint Paul’s second best affordable suburb. The same distance from Saint Paul as St. Anthony, you can visit the Minnesota State Capitol in no time. Living in Inver Grove Heights, you’ll want to visit the Inver Grove Heights Heritage Village or check out one of the city’s many parks. In this suburb of 35,800 people, you can also spend the day checking out the charming downtown.

#3: Roseville

Median home price: $315,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $172 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 10 minutes
Roseville, MN homes for sale
Roseville, MN apartments for rent

10 minutes away from downtown, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Roseville. From parks and outdoor recreation to shopping and dining, there are lots of things that make Roseville a great place to live. If you find yourself moving here, visit the Roseville History Center or attend a show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 

#4: Oakdale

Median home price: $320,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $180 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,574 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 10 minutes
Oakdale, MN homes for sale
Oakdale, MN apartments for rent

A little more expensive than Roseville is Oakdale, the next suburb on our list. Even with a population close to 28,300, there’s still plenty to do in this Saint Paul suburb. Plan to spend the day at visit the Oakdale Nature Preserve for hiking, biking, and nature watching, catch a show at the Oakdale Dinner Theatre, or go fishing or boating on Lake Elmo.

#5: Maplewood

Median home price: $325,000 
Average sale price per square foot: $171 
Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,641 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 10 minutes
Maplewood, MN homes for sale
Maplewood, MN apartments for rent

About a 10-minute drive into the city, add Maplewood to your list of Saint Paul suburbs to consider moving to. With 42,000 people living in this affordable town, Maplewood is a great option to consider when looking to stay close to Saint Paul without paying the premium for a home in the city. In Maplewood, you can go ice skating at the outdoor rink at the Maplewood Community Center, play in the snow at one of the city’s many parks, or visit the Maplewood Nature Center.

#6: Little Canada

Median home price: $337,450 
Average sale price per square foot: $157 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 5 minutes
Little Canada, MN homes for sale
Little Canada, MN apartments for rent

Sixth on our list is another well-known Saint Paul suburb, Little Canada. With roughly 10,800 people calling Little Canada home, it’s a great area to consider renting or buying a home in. And there are lots of activities to do in this suburb. You can take in the views at Gervais Lake, go bowling or play a game of pool at one of the local hotspots, or enjoy an afternoon at one of the parks, among many other favorites.

#7: Vadnais Heights

Median home price: $455,250 
Average sale price per square foot: $182 
Driving distance from Saint Paul: 10 minutes
Vadnais Heights, MN homes for sale
Vadnais Heights, MN apartments for rent

Rounding out our list of affordable Saint Paul suburbs is none other than Vadnais Heights. With a population of close to 12,900, living in Vadnais Heights is a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Saint Paul. If you are moving to this suburb, visit the Vadnais Heights Sports Center, take a walk or bike ride through one of the city’s beautiful parks, or head into St. Paul to check out a book at the Rice Street Library.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Saint Paul and under a 30-minute drive from downtown Saint Paul. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during November 2022. Average rental data from Rent.com November 2022. Population data sourced from United States Census Bureau.

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