St. Paul: Economy & Jobs
St. Paul's typical household earns $73,394 (1.1× below Ramsey County median $81,568; 1.2× below Minnesota median $90,958), with homes at a median value of $294,500. The surrounding county supports 325,226 jobs (avg $77,908).
- $85,420 avg taxable income per return — higher than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $73,394 — below the Minnesota median ($90,957). Poverty rate 15.6% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 40% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.0× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 20.4% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 40.1% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 15.6% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 5.2% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $269,710 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $23,038,507 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $85,420 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $83,247 |
| Median Household Income | $73,394 (vs Minnesota $90,958) |
| Poverty Rate | 15.6% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Economic Character
Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.
| Economic Character · Workforce | white_collar |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $73,394 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 3.8% — near the U.S. average of ~4%. 20% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 21.10 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 20.2% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 325,226 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $25,337,814,838 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $77,908 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 2,881,100 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% (vs Minnesota 4.0%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 15 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 180 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 12.00 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Horticulture Totals, Floriculture Totals, Bedding Plant Totals, Vegetable Totals, Flowering Plants, Potted |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 13,646 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 292,221 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 19,594,238 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 117 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 29 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 71 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 121 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 7 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 28 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 35 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 18 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 381 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 435 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 56 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 124 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
Banking
FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.
Branches (2)
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
Sample (2)
| Nearest Snap · Name | ALDI 37 |
|---|---|
| Nearest Snap · Total In Area | 2 |
Chamber of Commerce
IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.
| Chamber Of Commerce · Name | MINNESOTA BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INCORPORATED |
|---|
Sources: IRS EO BMF · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $5,277,640,684 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 9,554.85 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 552,352 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 58.9% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 3.8% |
| Pct Walked | 20.2% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 33.7 years (vs Minnesota 39.0y) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 22.7% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 4 |
| Retirement Score · Va Access | Yes |
| Retirement Score · Factors | hospital access, VA nearby |
| Retirement Score · Rating | fair |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12