Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,614)
Households earn $12,288 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
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
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 22°F
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Median income trails Minneapolis by $12,288/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Income
$12,288
$76,332 vs $64,044/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
50% lower
575.8 vs 1160.2 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Minneapolis wins 13 and West Palm Beach wins 10. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($76,332 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.