Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
86% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $17,856 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 22°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $330/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,597)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Buckeye by $17,856/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$17,856
$94,188 vs $76,332/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
86% lower
166.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$13k less
$328,700 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 23 categories. Buckeye wins 14 and Minneapolis wins 9. 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 Buckeye to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $328,700 median home), income ($94,188 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.