City comparison
No. Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 314 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Baltimore is cheaper. Median rent is $1,331 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
The income gap between Baltimore and Minneapolis is significant: $62,177 median household versus $80,846. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
This is a genuine split. Baltimore wins on cost of living and Minneapolis wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Baltimore and Minneapolis are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $40 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $18,669 (30%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 303 in Minneapolis, down 35 points (10%).
The move
Minneapolis and Baltimore are 937 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, down $40 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $18,669 (23%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 338 in Baltimore, up 35 points (12%).
Baltimore, MD
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Minneapolis, MN
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Baltimore and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Baltimore rent is 3% cheaper than Minneapolis
Baltimore
Winner$1,331/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,331 a month in Baltimore versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so Baltimore is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $40, or $480 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 30% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Minneapolis (about $18,669 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Minneapolis is the stronger labor market on paper. Baltimore can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
10% lower crime
Minneapolis's crime index is 10% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
Winner303 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis's crime index is 303 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Minneapolis. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Minneapolis, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Baltimore. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Baltimore and Minneapolis are about even on typical weather.
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
Baltimore is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,331 a month. Choose Baltimore if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 30% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Minneapolis is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Baltimore (303 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Baltimore is cheaper on rent ($1,331/month vs $1,371), but Minneapolis's $80,846 median income beats Baltimore's $62,177 by 23%. Remote workers paid on Minneapolis scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
With only $40 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Minneapolis; Baltimore only makes sense when $1,331/month housing savings outweigh $80,846 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Minneapolis when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Minneapolis, plus other cities in MD and MN.
