Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland 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
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($328,700 vs $523,100)
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,530)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
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
Median income trails Portland by $9,544/yr
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
38% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 22°F
Households earn $9,544 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$194k less
$328,700 vs $523,100
Portland
Median Income
$9,544
$85,876 vs $76,332/yr
Portland
Violent Crime
38% lower
720.1 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 219⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 52.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 53.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 11 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $523,100 median home), income ($76,332 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Portland, OR are about 1,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.