Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
58% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 22°F
Households earn $10,634 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($328,700 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $475/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,742)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Kent by $10,634/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
Kent
Median Income
$10,634
$86,966 vs $76,332/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
58% lower
489.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$150k less
$328,700 vs $478,400
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Minneapolis
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent 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 Kent to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $328,700 median home), income ($86,966 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.