Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Minneapolis
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $10,224 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($328,700 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,549)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Austin by $10,224/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$10,224
$86,556 vs $76,332/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
60% lower
466.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.8% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$133k less
$328,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 426,877 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Minneapolis wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Austin to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $328,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,042 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.