The Town FilesSouth St. Paul, Minnesota
City in Dakota County · population 20,759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,600
- Household income
- $87,994
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 37.2
South St. Paul is a city of 20,759 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $281,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 99% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 97% of Minnesota towns.
How South St. Paul ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South St. Paul is worth $281,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $87,994, which is more affordable than 62% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,199 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South St. Paul | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,199 | $991 |
| Median household income | $87,994 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in South St. Paul
| People | South St. Paul | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in South St. Paul
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South St. Paul since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1981 about 6.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 83 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 237 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 8, 1966.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 189,387 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,792 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in South St. Paul itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in South St. Paul
8 public schools with 3,117 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South St. Paul High School | 9-12 | 868 | 19.3 |
| LINCOLN CENTER ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 665 | 14.5 |
| KAPOSIA EDUCATION CENTER ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 636 | 14.5 |
| South St. Paul Middle School | 6-8 | 589 | 15.9 |
| Early Learning Resource Center | PK-PK | 181 | 60.3 |
| S ST. PAUL COMMUNITY LRNG. CNTR. | 7-12 | 94 | 13.4 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL ED PROGRAM | PK-PK | 58 | — |
| 917 Deaf/Hard of Hearing | PK-12 | 26 | 1.2 |
Towns near South St. Paul
- Newport, MN2.3 mi · 3,797 people · home $378,100
- West St. Paul, MN2.4 mi · 20,615 people · home $301,300
- Inver Grove Heights, MN4.2 mi · 35,801 people · home $363,400
- St. Paul Park, MN4.3 mi · 5,544 people · home $263,500
- Mendota Heights, MN4.6 mi · 11,744 people · home $520,300
- St. Paul, MN5.2 mi · 311,527 people · home $294,500
- Woodbury, MN5.9 mi · 75,102 people · home $450,200
- Eagan, MN7.8 mi · 68,855 people · home $397,100
South St. Paul questions
Is South St. Paul, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South St. Paul scores better for retirees than 5% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 2%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in South St. Paul?
The median owner-occupied home in South St. Paul is valued at $281,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $87,994, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,199 a month.
What is the weather like in South St. Paul?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 51.2 inches of snow.
Does South St. Paul get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South St. Paul since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1981. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)