Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem 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
Salem
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754
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 $8,792 more per year on average
Homes cost $21k less ($328,700 vs $349,500)
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
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
54% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 22°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Minneapolis by $8,792/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$8,792
$76,332 vs $67,540/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$21k less
$328,700 vs $349,500
Salem
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Violent Crime
54% lower
532.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 133⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 83.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($76,332 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Salem, OR are about 1,447 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.