Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 22°F
Households earn $4,887 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $663k less ($328,700 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $735/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Glendale by $4,887/yr
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Median Income
$4,887
$81,219 vs $76,332/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
75% lower
287.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$663k less
$328,700 vs $992,000
Minneapolis
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 10 and Minneapolis wins 13. 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 Glendale to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $328,700 median home), income ($81,219 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.