Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Charlotte leads 14 of 22 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Minneapolis
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
37% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 22°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Homes cost $16k less ($312,800 vs $328,700)
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,399/mo
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,399)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Charlotte
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Violent Crime
37% lower
733.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$16k less
$312,800 vs $328,700
Charlotte
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Charlotte
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$2,262
$76,332 vs $74,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 426,877 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Charlotte leads 14 of 22 categories. Charlotte wins 14 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 Charlotte to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($74,070 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Minneapolis, MN are about 939 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.