Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $1112k less ($328,700 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1574/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,841)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $89,020/yr
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 4.2%)
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,020 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$1112k less
$328,700 vs $1,440,200
Santa Clara
Median Income
$89,020
$165,352 vs $76,332/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
84% lower
182.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($76,332 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.