Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $16,145 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($171,800 vs $328,700)
63% less violent crime than Minneapolis
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Rent averages $114/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 37°F vs 22°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $16,145/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$16,145
$76,332 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
63% lower
427.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$157k less
$171,800 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 11 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($76,332 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Pittsburgh, PA are about 743 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.