Living in Saint Paul: 5 Pros and 5 Cons From People Who Live There

Search “Saint Paul pros and cons” and you’ll get the same takes over and over. I know a lot of people who live in Saint Paul, and I’ve worked with many of them. Here’s what they actually say after they’ve been there a while: five things that are great and five that’ll drive you a little crazy.

Details are as of my video above (June 2026).

Con 1: It’s quieter at night

Saint Paul is a lot quieter than Minneapolis, especially at night. There are great spots: West 7th near Grand Casino Arena has Patrick McGovern’s, Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub and Bad Weather Brewing, and downtown has the Amsterdam Bar & Hall, one of the best music venues in the Twin Cities for years. But if you want lots of late-night options or clubs in one place, you’ll probably cross the river. Saint Paul has more of a come-home-and-relax feel. Some people love that.

Pro 1: Historic architecture and charm

Summit Avenue is the longest stretch of Victorian homes in the country, about 4.5 miles from the Cathedral of Saint Paul west to the Mississippi. You’ll see Queen Anne, Romanesque, Tudor and Prairie-style homes, and about 85% still look the way they did when built. The American Planning Association named it one of the 10 great streets in America in 2008. Summit Hill, Cathedral Hill and Mac-Groveland share that feel: tree-lined streets, older homes and a real sense of place.

Con 2: Very little new construction

That same love of old buildings makes it hard to find new homes. If a brand-new home with an open floor plan is a must, you’ll have a tough time in Saint Paul. The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance launched a big plan at the end of 2025 to reshape downtown through 2026 and beyond, but for now, new construction is scarce compared to the suburbs.

Pro 2: Parks and green space

• Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is free every day of the year, with sea lions, giraffes, big cats, gorillas and a large plant conservatory.
• Harriet Island Regional Park on the Mississippi has walking trails, a marina and great views of the city.
• The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protects 72 miles of river corridor through the Twin Cities.
• More than 200 miles of bike paths and lanes, and the Gateway State Trail heading out about 18 miles.

Con 3: Potholes and road construction

The ground freezes and thaws over and over every winter, and it breaks up the roads. In early 2026, Saint Paul reported more potholes than normal and rolled out new equipment and a plan to fix them faster. MnDOT planned more than 200 road and bridge projects statewide for 2026, many through Saint Paul (including the I-35E bridge over Shepard Road, Highway 5 and Highway 280). Grand Avenue reopened in October 2025 after six months of work. Orange cones are part of the deal, so give yourself extra time.

Pro 3: An award-winning food scene

• Myriel on Cleveland Avenue: chef Karyn Tomlinson won the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Midwest.
• Saam Bar Saam, a neighborhood Italian spot, was a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for outstanding hospitality.
• Hmong Village on Johnson Parkway and Hmongtown Marketplace each have more than 200 vendors, among the most unique food destinations in the country.
• Grand Avenue has Café Latté, Cooks of Crocus Hill and a great stretch of restaurants.

Con 4: Limited public transit

You’ll need a car in most of Saint Paul, though transit is improving. The METRO Gold Line (downtown Saint Paul to Woodbury) opened in March 2025, the B Line in June 2025 and the E Line at the end of 2025, and the Green Line Extension adds 14.5 miles of light rail around 2027. If you’ve never owned a car, budget for one.

Pro 4: Minnesota’s cultural home base

• The Science Museum of Minnesota on the river, with its Omnitheater
• The Minnesota History Center, a few blocks from the Capitol
• The Minnesota Children’s Museum, renovated in 2017 with a four-story climbing structure
• The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, running since 1886, with ice sculptures, a medallion hunt and parades
• The Minnesota State Fair, which drew nearly 2 million people in 2025, more per day than any state fair in the country
• Free summer concerts in Rice Park downtown

Con 5: Fewer shopping options

There’s no big upscale mall. Grand Avenue is Saint Paul’s best spot for shopping and dining together, and it’s walkable and charming, but small. For specialty or name-brand stores, you’ll likely head to the nearby suburbs or across the river.

Pro 5: Great colleges

Saint Paul has a lot of higher education inside the city: Macalester College in Mac-Groveland, the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University and St. Catherine University, and students in the associated colleges can take classes at each other’s campuses. The University of Minnesota is reachable by Green Line. All of that brings energy and events to the neighborhoods.

Is Saint Paul for you?

Saint Paul has beautiful homes, great parks and a real food scene. It also asks a few things of you: a car, patience with the roads, and being okay with a slower pace and fewer stores. If that sounds like your kind of place, email our team and we’ll talk through what fits your budget and timeline.