Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Chandler leads 15 of 22 categories
Chandler
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
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.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
89% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $23,042 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 22°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,675/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $423,900
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $408/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,675)
Homes cost $95k less ($328,700 vs $423,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Chandler by $23,042/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Income
$23,042
$99,374 vs $76,332/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
89% lower
133.4 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Chandler
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$95k less
$328,700 vs $423,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chandler leads 15 of 22 categories. Chandler wins 15 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 Chandler to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $328,700 median home), income ($99,374 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.