Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Houston leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($235,000 vs $328,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 22°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $15,892/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $15,892 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°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
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
Houston
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Violent Crime
1% lower
1148.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Houston
Median Home Value
$94k less
$235,000 vs $328,700
Houston
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$15,892
$76,332 vs $60,440/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 426,877 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 13 and Minneapolis wins 10. 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 Houston to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $328,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,055 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.