Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 11 of 21 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $14,819 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($328,700 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $532/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jersey City by $14,819/yr
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
Jersey City
Median Income
$14,819
$91,151 vs $76,332/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
52% lower
561.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Jersey City
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$171k less
$328,700 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ 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 | A- (117) | A- (117) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 11 of 21 categories. Jersey City wins 10 and Minneapolis wins 11. 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 Jersey City to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $328,700 median home), income ($91,151 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.