Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Saint Paul lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Saint Paul sits.
Pro sports in Saint Paul
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Saint Paul hosts 1 major-league team across 1 league.
- MLS Minnesota United FC
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Saint Paul fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Saint Paul's strongest factors are Walkability, Transit Quality and Culture. Its heaviest drawbacks are Air Quality, Economic Strain and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Saint Paul
The Saint Paul read Free
A written read on Saint Paul, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Saint Paul scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Saint Paul, MN has a Fun Score of 63, placing it in the Fun category, and stands out nationally for its exceptionally affordable going-out costs.
Why it scores high
Saint Paul offers a well-rounded experience, particularly for those who appreciate getting around easily and engaging with arts and history. The city's strongest attribute is its Walkability, scoring an impressive 87 and tying for #16 nationally out of 134 cities. This high score means that many daily errands and recreational activities can be accomplished on foot, contributing to a vibrant street-level experience. Complementing this, Transit Quality is also excellent, with a score of 81, ranking #26 nationally. Residents and visitors can expect reliable and accessible public transportation options, making it easy to navigate the city without a car.
Beyond getting around, Saint Paul shines in its cultural offerings. The city earns a strong 78 for Culture, placing it at #30 nationally. This indicates a rich environment of museums, galleries, and theaters, providing ample opportunities for intellectual and artistic engagement. Additionally, the city boasts a remarkable score of 92 for Going-Out Cost, which is tied for #1 nationally. This means that enjoying entertainment, dining out, and other leisure activities in Saint Paul is significantly more affordable than in almost any other major city, making it an attractive destination for budget-conscious fun-seekers.
The city also performs well in other areas that contribute to a lively urban experience. Sports scores 71, tying for #39 nationally, suggesting a strong presence of professional and collegiate sports, along with various fitness facilities. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Saint Paul's Outdoors score of 67 (#45 nationally) points to a good selection of parks, nature reserves, and recreational spaces. The city's Star Power also stands out with a score of 72, ranking #38 nationally, indicating a notable presence of popular headliners and well-known residents.
Where it falls short
While Saint Paul excels in many areas, there are a few factors where it doesn't perform as strongly. The city's lowest score is for City Vibe, at 12, ranking #118 nationally. This suggests that the general buzz and excitement, as measured by news tone and search interest, might not be as pronounced as in other cities. Another area of concern is Air Quality, which scores a low 14 and ties for #116 nationally. This indicates that residents may experience less-than-ideal air conditions at times.
The Live Music scene also appears to be less developed, with a score of 25, placing it at #101 nationally. This suggests fewer options for live performances compared to many other cities. In terms of dining, Eats scores 45, ranking #74 nationally, indicating a moderate but not exceptional culinary landscape. The Climate also presents a challenge, scoring 26 and tying for #99 nationally, suggesting a relatively low number of comfortable days throughout the year.
Who it's for
Saint Paul, MN is an ideal city for individuals who prioritize affordability, ease of movement, and a rich cultural experience. It's perfect for those who enjoy exploring on foot or via public transit, appreciate a strong arts and history scene, and want to enjoy going out without breaking the bank. While not a hub for live music or a city with a perpetually sunny disposition, its strengths make it appealing to those seeking a comfortable and culturally engaging urban lifestyle with a strong community feel.
Cities like it
- Milwaukee, WI is similar due to its strong cultural offerings and good walkability.
- Columbus, OH shares common ground with its decent transit options and cultural scene.
- Toledo, OH is comparable in its affordability and accessible urban environment.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Saint Paul’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Saint Paul, MN: 64/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/saint-paul-mn
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.