55104 and 55117 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
55104
55117
Opportunity
47 · Bottom 33%
vs42 · Bottom 24%
Growth
33 · Bottom 22%
vs33 · Bottom 22%
Climate
55 · Bottom 5%
vs55 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
93 · Top 7%
vs93 · Top 7%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 43%
vs84 · Top 44%
Schools
14 · Bottom 4%
vs21 · Bottom 12%
Access
97 · Top 32%
vs96 · Top 33%
Economic stability
60 · Top 50%
vs57 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | 55104 | 55117 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 45,762 | 44,697 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,712 | $70,771 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,568 | $33,179 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,583/sq mi | 4,881/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $317,700 | $280,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,199 | $1,194 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.1% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 31.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 17.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 437 | 437 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 46.6% | 46.6% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 9°F | 9°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.2" | 29.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.4 | 32.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 25 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.86 | 13.44 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 20.0% | 17.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 29.4% | 26.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 62.9% | 76.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
55104
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
55117
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Full profiles: 55104 — St. Paul, MN · 55117 — St. Paul, MN · How this is calculated: methodology