City comparison
Yes. Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 179 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,472 in Dallas.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Dallas and Minneapolis. Dallas averages 67°F while Minneapolis averages 50°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,472 versus $1,371.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Dallas can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Dallas has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Dallas and Minneapolis are 864 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Dallas to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $101 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $70,518 in Dallas to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $10,328 (15%).
The crime index goes from 188 in Dallas to 303 in Minneapolis, up 115 points (61%).
The move
Minneapolis and Dallas are 864 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,472 a month in Dallas, up $101 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $70,518 in Dallas, down $10,328 (13%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 188 in Dallas, down 115 points (38%).
Dallas, TX
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 Dallas and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 7% cheaper than Dallas
Dallas
$1,472/mo
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,472 in Dallas, so Minneapolis is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $101, or $1,212 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
15% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 15% higher than Dallas
Dallas
$70,518
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $70,518 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Minneapolis (about $10,328 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. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Dallas's crime index is 38% lower than Minneapolis
Dallas
Winner188 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Dallas's crime index is 188 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Dallas. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Dallas is the easier city. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Dallas weather is 72% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Dallas
Winner67°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis
50°F avg · 57°F highs · comfort 58/100
Dallas averages about 67°F (74°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 50°F (57°F highs). Dallas sits near 67°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Minneapolis averages around 50°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Dallas scores 72% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Minneapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (67°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 72%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Minneapolis (188 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Minneapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (26/100 safety vs 41/100 in Dallas). That 15-point spread matters more than the $101 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (41/100 in Dallas vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $70,518 in Dallas.
Dallas clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Minneapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Minneapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Minneapolis when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Dallas and Minneapolis, plus other cities in TX and MN.
