Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $28,911 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
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
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Waco
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($174,100 vs $328,700)
63% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $28,911/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Median Income
$28,911
$76,332 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
63% lower
425.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$155k less
$174,100 vs $328,700
Waco
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 32.8 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 12.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 10 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($76,332 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Waco, TX are about 950 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.