Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $520k less ($328,700 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $881/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,148)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $33,003/yr
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
81% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $33,003 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 22°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Minneapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$520k less
$328,700 vs $848,200
Orange
Median Income
$33,003
$109,335 vs $76,332/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
81% lower
226.1 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 11 and Orange 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 Minneapolis to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $848,200 median home), income ($76,332 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Orange, CA are about 1,515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.