Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
191,857
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($184,200 vs $328,700)
36% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,267)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 22°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $28,023/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $28,023 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Violent Crime
36% lower
740.3 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$145k less
$184,200 vs $328,700
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$28,023
$76,332 vs $48,309/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 13 of 22 categories. Knoxville wins 13 and Minneapolis wins 9. 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 Knoxville to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $328,700 median home), income ($48,309 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Minneapolis, MN are about 790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.