Chicago, IL vs Minneapolis, MN
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | ChicagoChicago, IL | MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | High Risk | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | High Risk | Vulnerable |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 33.5 minutes, Chicago, IL has a longer average commute than Minneapolis, MN, whose residents average 22.5 minutes, a gap that places Chicago in the 95th percentile and Minneapolis in the 44th percentile for commute length in 2023 Census figures. Unemployment also diverges sharply: Chicago’s rate of 5.3% sits in the 93rd percentile, while Minneapolis’s 2.9% ranks in the 18th percentile, a 2.4-point difference. The comfortable income for a family of 4 in Chicago is $182,614, compared with $98,702 in Minneapolis, an 85% higher figure for Chicago, which also holds the 92nd percentile versus Minneapolis’s 64th.
Violent crime per 100,000 people is 371 in Chicago and 1,001 in Minneapolis, making Minneapolis 2.7× higher, with the latter in the 98th percentile and the former in the 74th. Property crime follows a similar pattern: 2,921 per 100,000 in Chicago versus 4,504 in Minneapolis, a 54% higher rate. Air quality index values are 54 for Chicago and 42 for Minneapolis, a 29% higher reading for Chicago, which falls in the 90th percentile compared with Minneapolis’s 46th. Average household size is 2.3 in Chicago and 2.2 in Minneapolis, a 7% larger figure for Chicago, though both remain in lower percentiles (34th and 15th).
Median home values are $315,200 in Chicago and $345,600 in Minneapolis, 10% higher in Minneapolis, while median rents are close at $1,380 and $1,329. Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago versus $80,269 in Minneapolis, 7% higher in Minneapolis. Work-from-home rates reach 23.3% in Minneapolis versus 18.3% in Chicago, a 5.0-point gap, and traffic deaths per 100,000 are 10 in Chicago and 7 in Minneapolis, 37% higher in Chicago.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 11660th pctl | 11861st pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $315,20057th pctl | $345,60063rd pctl | Median home value: Chicago, IL $315,200; Minneapolis, MN $345,600; Minneapolis is 10% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,38063rd pctl | $1,32959th pctl | About the same |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $75,13453rd pctl | $80,26959th pctl | Median household income: Chicago, IL $75,134; Minneapolis, MN $80,269; Minneapolis is 7% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $124,22792nd pctl | $67,14464th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Chicago, IL $124,227; Minneapolis, MN $67,144; Chicago is 85% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $182,61492nd pctl | $98,70264th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Chicago, IL $182,614; Minneapolis, MN $98,702; Chicago is 85% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Minneapolis needs about
$76,300
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 116 vs 118). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 5.3%93rd pctl | 2.9%18th pctl | Unemployment: Chicago, IL 5.3%; Minneapolis, MN 2.9%; Chicago is 2.4 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.2%26th pctl | +0.3%29th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $48,14874th pctl | $50,60578th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 16.8%73rd pctl | 16.4%71st pctl | About the same |
| CommuteAverage commute | 33.5 min95th pctl | 22.5 min44th pctl | Average commute: Chicago, IL 33.5 min; Minneapolis, MN 22.5 min; Chicago is 11 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 18.3%79th pctl | 23.3%89th pctl | Work from home: Chicago, IL 18.3%; Minneapolis, MN 23.3%; Minneapolis is 5.0 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Stable | Strong | Job market: Chicago, IL C+; Minneapolis, MN A-; Minneapolis is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 37174th pctl | 1,00198th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 371; Minneapolis, MN 1,001; Minneapolis is 2.7 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,92191st pctl | 4,50499th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Chicago, IL 2,921; Minneapolis, MN 4,504; Minneapolis is 54% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Comfortable | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Clean | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | highState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | C+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | D+State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | BState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 1 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Chicago, IL 0 mi; Minneapolis, MN 1 mi; Minneapolis is 2.5 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 276 mi40th pctl | 243 mi30th pctl | Distance to international border: Chicago, IL 276 mi; Minneapolis, MN 243 mi; Chicago is 14% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 678 mi81st pctl | 985 mi94th pctl | Distance to coastline: Chicago, IL 678 mi; Minneapolis, MN 985 mi; Minneapolis is 45% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,707,648100th pctl | 426,84598th pctl | Population: Chicago, IL 2,707,648; Minneapolis, MN 426,845; Chicago is 6.3 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 11,88999th pctl | 7,90596th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Chicago, IL 11,889; Minneapolis, MN 7,905; Chicago is 50% higher. |
| Median age | 35.731st pctl | 3315th pctl | Median age: Chicago, IL 35.7; Minneapolis, MN 33; Chicago is 2.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.3%71st pctl | 54.5%84th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Chicago, IL 43.3%; Minneapolis, MN 54.5%; Minneapolis is 11.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.334th pctl | 2.215th pctl | Average household size: Chicago, IL 2.3; Minneapolis, MN 2.2; Chicago is 7% larger. |
More about Chicago's residents · Minneapolis's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | ChicagoChicago, IL | MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+17 | D+32 |
| 2024 presidential | D +28.0 pts | D +61.0 pts |
Full politics data: Chicago · Minneapolis
Moving between Chicago and Minneapolis
- Median rent: $1,380 in Chicago, $1,329 in Minneapolis
- Median home value: $315,200 in Chicago, $345,600 in Minneapolis
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 116 in Chicago, 118 in Minneapolis
- Median household income: $75,134 in Chicago, $80,269 in Minneapolis
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $182,614 in Chicago, $98,702 in Minneapolis
- Unemployment: 5.3% in Chicago, 2.9% in Minneapolis
- Average commute: 33.5 min in Chicago, 22.5 min in Minneapolis
- Violent crime per 100k: 371 in Chicago, 1,001 in Minneapolis
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More places like Chicago and Minneapolis
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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