Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Minneapolis
Minnesota
7
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($158,700 vs $328,700)
87% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $312/mo less ($955 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 22°F
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $20,006/yr
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $20,006 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°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
Cost of living runs 19% higher than McAllen
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
87% lower
150.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$170k less
$158,700 vs $328,700
McAllen
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$20,006
$76,332 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 16 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 16 and Minneapolis wins 7. 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 McAllen to Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $328,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,324 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.