Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
103,873
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
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Homes cost $90k less ($328,700 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
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
Median income trails Rialto by $4,418/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 22°F
Households earn $4,418 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$90k less
$328,700 vs $418,300
Minneapolis
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$4,418
$80,750 vs $76,332/yr
Rialto
Violent Crime
45% lower
641.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Rialto
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 32.8 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 13 and Rialto wins 10. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $418,300 median home), income ($76,332 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Rialto, CA are about 1,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.