Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $23,935/yr
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $23,935 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than College Station
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
85% lower
170.5 vs 1160.2 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$23k less
$305,800 vs $328,700
College Station
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$23,935
$76,332 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
College Station is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station 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 College Station to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($52,397 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.