Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
307,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $29,872 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Newark, NJ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 22°F
Homes cost $16k less ($312,300 vs $328,700)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $29,872/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Income
$29,872
$76,332 vs $46,460/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Violent Crime
50% lower
581.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Newark
Median Home Value
$16k less
$312,300 vs $328,700
Newark
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 307,355 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 10.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 13 and Newark wins 10. 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 Minneapolis to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $312,300 median home), income ($76,332 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Newark, NJ are about 1,008 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.