Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Trenton leads 12 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $31,888 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($111,200 vs $328,700)
12% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 22°F
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,267)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $31,888/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$31,888
$76,332 vs $44,444/yr
Minneapolis
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.2% unemployment
Trenton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Violent Crime
12% lower
1025.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Trenton
Median Home Value
$218k less
$111,200 vs $328,700
Trenton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.5°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 270⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 86.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 26.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Trenton leads 12 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 11 and Trenton wins 12. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $111,200 median home), income ($76,332 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Trenton, NJ are about 994 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.