Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Round Rock, TX
🏆 Round Rock leads 13 of 22 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Round Rock
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,888 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
120,465
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $319/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,586)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Round Rock by $15,556/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.8%)
Round Rock, TX
Pros
89% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (130.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $15,556 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 22°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,586/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Round Rock
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Round Rock
Median Income
$15,556
$91,888 vs $76,332/yr
Round Rock
Violent Crime
89% lower
130.7 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Round Rock
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Round Rock
Summer Heat
12.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Round Rock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $337,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,586⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $91,888 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 19.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | ROUND ROCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 36.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 120,465 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Round Rock's 97.6 (US average = 100).
Round Rock is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Round Rock leads 13 of 22 categories. Minneapolis wins 9 and Round Rock 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 Round Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $337,500 median home), income ($76,332 vs $91,888), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Round Rock, TX are about 1,026 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.