Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $18,795 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°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
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($215,500 vs $328,700)
22% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 22°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $18,795/yr
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$18,795
$76,332 vs $57,537/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
22% lower
908.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$113k less
$215,500 vs $328,700
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 41.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 16.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 14 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 9 and Philadelphia wins 14. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $215,500 median home), income ($76,332 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Philadelphia, PA are about 983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.