Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 22°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Homes cost $40k less ($328,700 vs $368,800)
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
Lancaster
Violent Crime
28% lower
834.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Lancaster
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Income
$4,965
$76,332 vs $71,367/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$40k less
$328,700 vs $368,800
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 11 and Minneapolis wins 12. 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 Lancaster to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($71,367 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.