Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Tacoma
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
219,234
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($328,700 vs $415,300)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,489)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
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 Tacoma by $2,753/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 22°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Households earn $2,753 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$87k less
$328,700 vs $415,300
Minneapolis
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.1°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$2,753
$79,085 vs $76,332/yr
Tacoma
Violent Crime
8% lower
1063.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 275⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 280⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 219,234 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 12 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($76,332 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Tacoma, WA are about 1,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.