Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa 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 Rosa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $333k less ($328,700 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $757/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,024)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
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 Santa Rosa by $16,272/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $16,272 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 22°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Minneapolis
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$333k less
$328,700 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$16,272
$92,604 vs $76,332/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
70% lower
342.6 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Santa Rosa 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $661,700 median home), income ($76,332 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.