Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877
Sacramento
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $122k less ($328,700 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,592)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°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
Median income trails Sacramento by $2,622/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 22°F
Households earn $2,622 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$122k less
$328,700 vs $450,500
Minneapolis
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$2,622
$78,954 vs $76,332/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
35% lower
754.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Sacramento
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($76,332 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Sacramento, CA are about 1,510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.