City comparison
Yes. Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 211 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,421 in Fresno.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fresno and Minneapolis. Fresno averages 74°F while Minneapolis averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,421 versus $1,371.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Fresno 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. Fresno has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Fresno and Minneapolis are 1,489 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,421 a month in Fresno to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $50 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $70,991 in Fresno to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $9,855 (14%).
The crime index goes from 195 in Fresno to 303 in Minneapolis, up 108 points (55%).
The move
Minneapolis and Fresno are 1,489 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,421 a month in Fresno, up $50 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $70,991 in Fresno, down $9,855 (12%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 195 in Fresno, down 108 points (36%).
Fresno, CA
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 Fresno and Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 4% cheaper than Fresno
Fresno
$1,421/mo
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,421 in Fresno, so Minneapolis is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $50, or $600 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
14% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 14% higher than Fresno
Fresno
$70,991
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $70,991 in Fresno, so typical pay runs 14% higher in Minneapolis (about $9,855 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. Fresno can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
36% lower crime
Fresno's crime index is 36% lower than Minneapolis
Fresno
Winner195 (100 = avg)
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Fresno's crime index is 195 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 36% lower in Fresno. 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, Fresno 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
Fresno weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Fresno
Winner74°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Fresno averages about 74°F (84°F highs); Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs). Fresno sits near 74°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. Fresno 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
Pick Fresno if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fresno is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 36% lower than Minneapolis (195 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 4% 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 14% 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 40/100 in Fresno). That 14-point spread matters more than the $50 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (40/100 in Fresno vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $70,991 in Fresno.
Pick Fresno when you want the stronger safety signal (40/100). Otherwise, Minneapolis's case rests on a Minneapolis ZIP you trust at $1,371 rent.
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 Fresno and Minneapolis, plus other cities in CA and MN.
