The Twin Cities' older sibling, Saint Paul, lies east of Minneapolis and overlooks the Mississippi River. Founded in the mid-1800s, 13 years before its twin, Saint Paul is one of the oldest cities in Minnesota. The city began as a military fort in the early 1840s and became the state capital and a bustling river transportation hub in less than two decades. “People often assume Minneapolis is the capital,” says Nick Mansur, Realtor with Keller Williams Integrity Realty. "Because Minneapolis is bigger, busier and there is always something going on, but not everyone wants to live in the center of the commotion." The true state capital, Saint Paul, is the second-most populous city in the state and is also home to Fortune 500 companies like Ecolab and 3M, both of which contribute to its robust health sciences and manufacturing industries. The city’s park system covers more than 5,000 acres and offers residents year-round activities, despite the humid summers and icy winters. Saint Paul is also diverse, with more than 80 languages spoken, and the food scene features authentic cuisines from all over the world. With affordable housing options, a robust parks system and a 10-minute commute into Minneapolis, Saint Paul is the stand-out city in this pair.
Saint Paul has a sparkling array of enclaves. There’s Rondo in Summit-University on the city’s west side, which hosts the largest African American festival in the state every year, and Lowertown, an up-and-coming artists’ quarter, downtown. West Side — which despite the name, is actually on the south side but west of the river — is known for its vibrant Latin American culture, which manifests in the form of food and annual festivities. Como Park is popular to the north for its myriad of outdoor recreation options, including a free public zoo and botanical garden.
The Mississippi RIver runs through St. Paul.
St. Paul is the Minnesota state capitol.
Ecolab is one of many industries that calls St. Paul home.
The frog pond at Como Park is a popular place to watch the sunset over the conservatory.
1/4
Affordable options north of the Mississippi River
The real estate market in Saint Paul attracts a wide range of buyers with starter homes, condos and established single-family homes complete with riverfront views. "Saint Paul may be smaller and quieter than Minneapolis, but it's also generally a more affordable option for homebuyers and many people choose to settle down there as a result," says Mansur, who has over eight years of selling experience in the area. The market is competitive, with homes selling on average within 32 days, as compared to the national average of 44. Most single-family homes were constructed in the late 1800s, however, new construction is also moving into the lower-west quadrant of the city. Notable subdivisions, like Summit Hill , features a 5-mile stretch of Victorian-era homes and is the only one of its kind in the U.S. With a median sales price of $315,000, prices can range from as low as $50,000 for a one-bedroom condo to upwards of $3 million for a newly constructed five-bedroom home situated along the Mississippi River. The Twin Cities Metro's Annual Housing Market Report states that in Saint Paul, home prices have increased by 2% yearly and more than 24% since 2019. On average, Twin Cities sellers receive more than 99% of their original list price.
Condos line the walking paths along the Mississippi in Downtown St. Paul.
The homes on Summit Hill are some of the largest and oldest in St. Paul.
The west side of St. Paul has multi million dollar homes.
Frogtown is best known for its peaceful quiet neighborhood street life.
1/4
Community gathering spots, Twin City sports and museums
Home to more than 200 parks, green spaces and recreation centers, almost 100% of Saint Paul residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The city earned a 2023 ParkScore Ranking of 2 from the Trust for Public Land, exceeded only by Washington, D.C. The Trust reports that the city spends over $75 million annually to maintain and improve its parks. Saint Paul has four seasons, and residents are accustomed to warm summers and cold winters, with an average snowfall of over 54 inches per year. Harriet Island Regional Park offers sunny meadows and sightseeing boat cruises. Movies and concerts also take place on the island, thanks to the Target Stage venue. Indian Mounds Regional Park, in southeast Saint Paul, is popular for its historical significance as an Indigenous burial ground and its scenic overlook, playground and tennis courts. Como Lake and Lake Phalen offer fishing, boating, swimming, ice skating and miles of multi-use trails on the city's north side. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is the country's only free zoo and botanical garden and is located on Como Lake’s west side. Highland Park, on the southwest side of town, features two public golf courses, playgrounds, sports courts, fields, a sledding hill and cross-country skiing trails.
The Minnesota Wild, Saint Paul’s professional ice hockey team, plays home games at Xcel Energy Center, while the city’s Minor League Baseball team, the Saints, plays at CHS Field. The two venues are just a mile away, near downtown and north of the river. The Saints are the Triple-A affiliate of MLB’s Minnesota Twins, who play home games at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts stages theater productions and operas, while Landmark Center hosts musical and dance performances. Museums within the city limits include Minnesota History Center, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Children’s Museum. All three are just north of the river, close to downtown.
Residents enjoy strolling along the walking trails at Harriet Island.
Catch a glimpse of Downtown St. Paul from Indian Mounds Park.
Xcel Energy Center hosts many mainstream events in its Downtown Saint Paul arena.
The Minnesota Science Museum calls St. Paul home.
1/4
Year-round events in Saint Paul
Saint Paul honors its cultural diversity and changing of the seasons with various events hosted throughout the year. In January, locals attend the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, which is 17 days long and features three parades and a range of outdoor activities, like ice skating and snow carving, to ward off the winter blues. The Hmong New Year is celebrated from the end of November through December 1st at the Saint Paul RiverCentre, honoring ancestors and marking the end of harvest. The Songkran Festival, held in May, which highlights Thai and Southeast Asian culture through music, traditional dances and the popular papaya eating contest. In July, the Rondo Days Festival is hosted at the Hallie Q Brown Community Center to honor the Rondo neighborhood, which was split in half due to the construction of Interstate 94. It has been a community staple since 1983 and is the largest African American sponsored festival in Minnesota. The Minnesota State Fair is open from August through Labor Day. This 15-day event is a long-standing tradition that marks the end of the summer season.
Local grocers and west-side eateries
Groceries and everyday essentials are available at a mix of local markets and name-brand grocers, like Aldi, Trader Joe's and Cub Foods, spread throughout the city. For fresh seasonal produce, the St. Paul Farmers’ Market is hosted in Lowertown on Saturdays throughout the year. Grand Avenue, in Summit Hill on the southwest side of town, is home to a classic Main Street-style collection of local boutiques and shops. This 5-mile stretch features everything from florists and beauty salons to galleries, gifts and home décor. The shopping district has big-name brands, too, like Anthropologie, J. Crew, Patagonia and Pottery Barn. On Saint Paul's west side, dining options range from traditional fast-food chains to locally owned eateries. Home to Frogtown and Rondo, two of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, it draws foodies who crave authentic Cambodian, Ethiopian, Chinese, Greek, Mexican and Italian fare.
Mo's Tropical Market sells unique fruits, authentic goods and has a food deli area.
St. Paul has a year-round farmers' market.
Grand Avenue is one of the more popular shopping and dining districts in St. Paul.
Come grab a bite of some delicious homemade Thai Street food at Hot Grainz.
1/4
Education at Ramsey County Schools
Saint Paul is home to seven public school districts. Most students are zoned to Saint Paul Public Schools, which earns a B-minus rating from the review site, Niche and is the second-largest district in Minnesota. It serves more than 33,000 students between preschool and Grade 12. There are nearly 70 schools in the system, several offering special programs like language immersion in Mandarin, Spanish, French and German, along with International Baccalaureate. Other available programs focus on American Indian and Hmong language and culture. Private options like The International School of Minnesota, St. Paul Academy & Summit School and Mounds Park Academy make up Minnesota's top three private high schools, all within a 30-minute drive. Those pursuing higher education can look to the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities less than 10 miles northeast, while the St. Paul campus is even closer, in Falcon Heights just north of Como Park. This public research university offers nearly 300 undergraduate majors and more than 500 graduate and professional degrees.
Bruce F. Vento Elementary School is a public school located in Saint Paul, MN.
Experience a school that embraces diversity, fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Como Park Senior High School is a public school located in Saint Paul, MN.
Cretin-Derham Hall has an "A+" overall score on niche.
1/4
Traversing the Twin Cities
Interstates 35E and 94 intersect at the heart of downtown, connecting the Twin Cities and providing access to neighboring areas like Little Canada and Maplewood. Public transportation options range from the Metro Transit bus and light rail to Amtrak’s Empire Builder line and the Lime, Spin or Veo rental bike and scooter system. The Metro Green Line runs between the Twin Cities. When traveling further outside the city, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is 11 miles away. For healthcare, the Regions Hospital is located in Downtown Saint Paul.
Crime
FBI data reports Saint Paul's crime rates are higher than the national average. However, property and violent crimes have decreased significantly since 2022. On average, Saint Paul experiences lower crime rates than Minneapolis.
Who We Are: As graduates of the University of Minnesota, life-long members of the Twin Cities community, and having raised their 4 daughters here, Jon and Mary Beth are not only familiar with the local neighborhoods and communities – they know the people who are a part of them as well. They understand that when clients are making a move, it’s not just a home they are buying or selling – it’s the community as well.
We Get Results: Utilizing their 35+ years of experience, their local area expertise, and their knowledge of the current housing market, Jon and Mary Beth have built a strong network of thousands of satisfied clients. The Perkins Team provides the best service available in the industry by utilizing cutting-edge technology and marketing strategies that have been proven to sell homes quickly and for top-dollar.
We Work Hard: Hard-work and determination are the underlying reasons why the Perkins Team is so successful. Since 1985, Jon and Mary Beth have provided unmatched service, loyalty and insight for their clients, which has led them to be ranked among the top RE/MAX teams in Minnesota. Jon and Mary Beth are committed to delivering each and every client the exceptional service that they deserve.
We Have Experience: The Perkins Team agents know the Twin Cities Neighborhoods and properties inside and out, and they’ve dealt with all sorts of transactions. Whether you’re selling or buying, their sales agents provide expert perspective and advice when you need it, and listen to your needs to ensure the best possible result for your unique circumstances. They answer questions and communicate proactively by phone, text, e-mail, and in-person.
We Work as a Team: Every real estate transaction requires the completion of numerous tasks including marketing, negotiation, sale tracking, and communication… just to name a few! As a buyer or seller, you’ll need a trusted advisor, a skilled negotiator, and an expert facilitator. The Perkins Team recognizes this need and they have assembled a group of experts to meet it. Each member of the Perkins Team has different strengths and talents allowing them to handle your transaction with the care of a specialist — every step of the way!
We Communicate: Using constant communication, the Perkins Team continually adapts to the current situation and provides their full attention to make the transaction as easy and stress-free for their clients as possible. They believe that communication is key and always keep their clients informed and up-to-date on all aspects of their real estate transaction.
We Are Ethical: Protecting the best interests of their clients is their main priority, but Jon and Mary Beth believe that honesty, integrity and doing the right thing are of the utmost importance as well. While abiding by the Code of Ethics and considering the unique elements of each transaction, they ensure that everything is done legally, ethically, honestly and socially responsible.
Measuring Our Success: Jon and Mary Beth use their positive energy and enthusiasm to bring a sense of fun to everything they do, and they have taken the same approach with their careers as well. And it’s been the key to their success as one of the nation’s top real estate teams. But Jon and Mary Beth measure their success in only one way – by the satisfaction of their clients!
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
