Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,568)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $15k less ($328,700 vs $343,700)
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $11,212/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
92% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 22°F
Households earn $11,212 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$15k less
$328,700 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$11,212
$87,544 vs $76,332/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
92% lower
92.3 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Virginia Beach
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 39.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 8 and Virginia Beach wins 15. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($76,332 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,060 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.