City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,371 in Minneapolis.
Safety is where El Paso and Minneapolis split most clearly. El Paso scores 216 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,073 in El Paso and $1,371 in Minneapolis.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Minneapolis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Minneapolis are 1,158 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, up $298 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $21,101 (35%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 303 in Minneapolis, up 216 points (248%).
The move
Minneapolis and El Paso are 1,158 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $298 a month (22%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $59,745 in El Paso, down $21,101 (26%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 87 in El Paso, down 216 points (71%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
22% cheaper
El Paso rent is 22% cheaper than Minneapolis
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Minneapolis
$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,371 in Minneapolis, so El Paso is 22% cheaper. That's roughly $298/month back in your pocket ($3,576/year). Over five years that's $17,880 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Minneapolis, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
35% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 35% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Minneapolis (about $21,101 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. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
71% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 71% lower than Minneapolis
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso 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
39% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Minneapolis averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. El Paso scores 39% 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
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 22% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Minneapolis (87 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 better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% 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 64/100 in El Paso). That 38-point spread matters more than the $298 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Minneapolis's $1,371, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 66°F in El Paso and 55°F in Minneapolis.
Pick El Paso when you want the stronger safety signal (64/100). Otherwise, Minneapolis's case rests on a Minneapolis ZIP you trust at $1,371 rent.
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