Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $12,880 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($328,700 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,981)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boston by $12,880/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$12,880
$89,212 vs $76,332/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
46% lower
627.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$356k less
$328,700 vs $684,900
Minneapolis
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 426,877 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 and Minneapolis wins 13. 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 Boston to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $328,700 median home), income ($89,212 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.