Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Providence
Rhode Island
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $14,967 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Providence, RI
Pros
76% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Homes cost $36k less ($293,000 vs $328,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 22°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $14,967/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$14,967
$76,332 vs $61,365/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Providence
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
76% lower
276.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$36k less
$293,000 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 36.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 32.8 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 12 and Providence wins 11. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($76,332 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Providence, RI are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.