Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $130k less ($328,700 vs $458,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,975 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.6%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
26% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 22°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$3,975
$76,332 vs $72,357/yr
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$130k less
$328,700 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
26% lower
864.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 50.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 39.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 32.8 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 12 and Salt Lake City wins 11. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $458,600 median home), income ($76,332 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Salt Lake City, UT are about 986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.