Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Redding, CA
🏆 Redding leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Redding
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,323
Violent Crime Index
170⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,327
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,009 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 100°F
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
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Redding, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 22°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (647.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Minneapolis by $9,009/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$9,009
$76,332 vs $67,323/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$14k less
$328,700 vs $343,000
Redding
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Redding
Violent Crime
44% lower
647.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Redding
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.9°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Redding, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,278 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $67,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 16.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Redding Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 99.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 41.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 93,327 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Redding's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Redding is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Redding leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Redding wins 13. 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 Redding or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $343,000 median home), income ($76,332 vs $67,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Redding, CA are about 1,498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.