Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($168,400 vs $328,700)
48% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 22°F
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $21,771/yr
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $21,771 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Columbus
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
48% lower
603.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$160k less
$168,400 vs $328,700
Columbus
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$21,771
$76,332 vs $54,561/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 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 | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $328,700 median home), income ($54,561 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Minneapolis, MN are about 971 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.