Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 22 categories
Gresham
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
65% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Median income trails Minneapolis by $6,895/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($328,700 vs $411,700)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,452)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,895 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Violent Crime
65% lower
410.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Income
$6,895
$76,332 vs $69,437/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$83k less
$328,700 vs $411,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 22 categories. Gresham wins 9 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 Gresham to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $328,700 median home), income ($69,437 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,412 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.