Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno 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 ✓ Larger
Reno
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
265,196
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($328,700 vs $462,100)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,360)
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,259 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Reno, NV
Pros
54% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 46°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Median income trails Minneapolis by $3,259/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$3,259
$76,332 vs $73,073/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$133k less
$328,700 vs $462,100
Reno
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Violent Crime
54% lower
529.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Reno
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Reno
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 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 | $462,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ 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 | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 265,196 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 48.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 14 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 9 and Reno 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $462,100 median home), income ($76,332 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Reno, NV are about 1,403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.